Jaipur: Firecracker shops yet to be shifted from residential areas

JAIPUR: The blaze at a firecracker godown in Chandi ki Taksaal on Tuesday which claimed one life has raised question mark on the district administration which is yet to take any decision on shifting such shops situated in the residential area of the city.
It is said that due to short-circuit, the fire broke out in the godown and a man was burnt to death. Later, it was revealed that the godown owner did not have any licence.
Jagdish Phulwari, Jaipur chief fire officer, said, “Since the mishap at Indira Market this year, I have stopped renewing the licence of any firecracker shop in the city. The department is trying to find a solution to it and soon a committee will be set up.”
At Hawamahal Market where the Chandi ki Taksaal is situated, around 15 firecracker shops are situated. It has been a matter of debate in the market for a long time to get these shops shifted out of the market.
One shopkeeper said, “We have demanded in the past to shift these shops out of Walled City, but the firecracker shopkeepers oppose it. These shops in the market are more than a century old, so, they blame us for spoiling their business. The decision should be taken by the government regarding it.”
In February 2020, a massive fire broke out at Indira Market in Walled City in which 10 shops were burnt. The fire started due to one firecracker shops which became out of control and in which many people lost their livelihood.
Since then, Indira market Association has already written to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) to remove the shops from the market but decision hasn’t been taken.
“Around 10 shops were completely gutted. We have written it to JMC to shift these shops from the market, but no decision has been taken,” said Jagdish Keswani, president of Indira Market Association.