The Fire and Rescue Service Department has issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to set up 5,595 firecracker shops across the State in view of Deepavali festival. Of them, 914 were in Chennai city.

This year, as many as 6,206 applications were received for obtaining NOCs for setting up temporary firecracker shops in the State. “After scrutiny of 6,206 applications and spot visits, 5,595 no objection certificates have been issued so far while 334 applications were pending and 277 were rejected on various grounds,” M. Shahul Hameed, joint director, Fire and Rescue Services Department, told The Hindu.

No Chinese crackers

The department has not issued NOCs to shops in commercial complexes, basements of residential apartments, marriage halls or areas where a large number of people would come to shop during the festival. Mr. Hameed said, “We imposed additional conditions including that the shop should not sell Chinese firecrackers or the crackers which were banned.”

After the receipt of the NOCs, the police department scrutinised the applications after which the Fire and Rescue Services Department granted permission.

This time 72 temporary shops have been permitted in the mega Deepavali fair on Island Ground.

Stringent conditions imposed on them such as each shop should be independent and made up of non-flammable material which is closed and secured to prevent unauthorised persons accessing them. The sheds shall be at a distance of at least three metres from each other, and in a single row.