Assn flags use of fake experience letters to get licence for cracker sale

The Ludhiana Wholesale Fireworks Association has flagged the issue of use of fake work experience letters being submitted by applicants to get the wholesale fireworks licence.

Association members flagged the issue before Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain and Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma and urged them to ensure that application for the crackers licence should be thoroughly checked so that inexperienced people might not be able to get the licence by resorting to corrupt practices.

Interestingly, this year, the number of applications to secure the fireworks licence has surpassed 1,500. The police and the district administration will allot shops at six sites, including the main Dana Mandi in Salem Tabri, Hambran road, Model Town Extension, Chandigarh road in Sector 32, Lodhi Club road and the Dugri 200-ft road. Draw of lots will be organised on October 11 at Bachat Bhawan.

Ashok Thapar from the association said even in the application form, three years’ experience in crackers trade was mandatory to get the licence, else application would be rejected and Rs 4,700 application fee would also be forfeited.

“Our concern is that people are going to shops in the market and secretly getting letterheads of firms and getting fake certificates created on their own, which could not be verified. Some are even buying experience certificates from old firework dealers by paying a required fee. Hence, we demand that three-year-old fireworks licences be made mandatory, instead of experience certificates, which could be forged,” Thapar said.

Thapar said though the authorities have categorically cleared that the applicants should not have any criminal background, there are reports that some people having criminal history too have applied for the same.

“The authorities should scrutinise the applications properly and if anyone attached any forged document or hide information about criminal background to mislead the police, licence should not be issued and immediate legal action should be taken against the person,” he said.

Vishal Sharma Shelly, another member of the association, said availing licence to sell crackers means one had to deal with explosives and any negligence by inexperienced traders might cause major tragedy in the wholesale market.

He said: “Some people acquire licences in the names of their spouses, children or relatives and our demand was that if the relative did not resides in the city, the licence should not be issued. Hence, the scrutiny of files should be done meticulously so that only genuine traders could be given the licence.

“We are fully confident that the CP and the DC, or if they involve two experienced firecracker traders in the process, would be able to perform the scrutiny effectively," he said.