Firecracker vendors encroach on footpaths flouting HC orders

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and city police are sitting pretty even as firecracker vendors flout high court orders against storage or sale of crackers on footpaths and roads. Sources said the presence of vendors on footpaths and roads shows the cops have issued licences in gross violation of the rules for issuing temporary licences to sell firecrackers.

The licences were issued by the city police and NMC's fire and emergency services department with only recommendations on safety measures to be implemented by the shopkeepers. Now, the two authorities have started pointing fingers at each other. While NMC's fire and emergency services department said it was for the police to monitor and act against violators, the police say since footpaths are under the domain of NMC, it is for them to take action.

On Tuesday, TOI visited many areas across the city and found that shopkeepers have set up shops on footpaths. The brazen violation is clearly visible in Central Avenue, Itwari, Gandhibagh and other areas of the city. At some places, TOI spotted shops set up close to power transformers, or distribution boxes of power supply department. Even the smallest lapse can lead to a major accident in these situations, sources said.

However, some cops said temporary licences have not been issued for shops on footpaths, but firecracker vendors have encroached on footpaths along Central Avenue. A senior NMC fire and emergency services department official said it is the responsibility of the police department to track these, since it is the licensing authority. "Our department has issued only 46 guidelines issued by Maharashtra Fire Services to be implemented by these shopkeepers," he said.

According to the guidelines, the police department has been asked to "keep a close watch to ensure that firecrackers are not sold or stored on road pavements during festival season in any part of the city".

Any shopkeeper selling or storing fire crackers in violation of the rules is liable for prosecution. The firecrackers should be seized and premises sealed, as per the terms and conditions of the temporary licences issued by the police department.

Joint commissioner of police Shivaji Bodkhe said, "The footpaths are owned by NMC so it is their jurisdiction to act against encroachers. NMC must take action against shopkeepers encroaching no footpaths. Under the law, we cannot act unless we receive a complaint. Even while issuing temporary licenses, we only ensure safety norms are told to them."

ASHI NAGAR ZONE UNDER SCANNER

Functioning of Ashi Nagar zone has come under the scanner after two people allegedly opened a firecracker shop at a defunct fire station in Pachpaoli area. The owners have not obtained any police permission or a nod from the fire department. Despite complaints filed by fire department officials, the zone has turned a blind eye to the stall. A senior fire officer told TOI that the department will be filing a police complaint soon.

(With inputs from Viraj Deshpande)