City markets turn into fire hazards as illegal cracker sellers set up vends

As Diwali approaches, the city’s markets have turned into massive hubs that are openly housing gunpowder. With no security measures or administrative oversight, most marketplaces are awash in gunpowder as businessmen are in the pursuit of profits. A number of vends have sprung up and most are selling firecrackers without any valid licences. So far, the authorities concerned have not confiscated any stock from these shops.

During several visit to separate markets, it was noticed that crackers had been kept openly on the roadside. A single spark could turn these crowded markets into graveyards in the blink of an eye as there were no safety measures or fire extinguishers in sight. Officials of the district administration and police department, who pass through these markets every day, seem to have turned a blind eye towards these illegal cracker sellers.

Designated cracker sale areas in the city include the grain market near Jalandhar Bypass, the cremation ground road in Model Town Extension, Dugri Phase 2, the GLADA ground on Chandigarh Road, Hambran Road in Haibowal and Lodhi Club road. Any other cracker shop, if set up by anyone, may invite legal action and their stock may also be confiscated by the police.

Sources said Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma had instructed all SHOs and police officials concerned to investigate illegal firecracker shops and take legal action against the defaulters.

The areas with the maximum number of illegal shops include Jassian Road, Gill Road, Daresi, old city markets, Haibowal, Hambran Road, Chandigarh Road, Sector 32, Chandar Nagar, Shimlapuri, Salem Tabri, near Jalandhar Bypass, Ladhowal, Hargobind Nagar, CMC Road, Upkar Nagar, Dr Gujjarmal Road etc.

Alarmingly, not only have these traders stocked their shops, they have also stored huge amounts of crackers in the residential areas.

A shopkeeper on Jassian Road when asked if he had a valid licence to sell crackers was quick to announce, “No I do not have any licence, but I have been selling crackers from years now around Diwali. I take due precautionary measures to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. I am forced to run a crackers shop close to Diwali as this is a very important time for me to be able to earn bread for my family.”

Another shopkeeper in Chandar Nagar said, he was not the only one selling crackers without a licence, there were hundreds like him. He said there was nothing wrong in doing this. “What we need to do is take enough precautions to prevent a fire from breaking out. I have also kept fire extinguishers as precaution to tackle any kind of urgency,” added a shopkeeper, requesting anonymity.