Prayagraj: To ensure safety and security in Diwali, also known as the festival of lights and crackers, the joint team of police and administration have identified as many as 15 venues for the sale of green firecrackers.
The venues selected for the sale of green firecrackers in the city are the schools' playground. Green crackers are known for their environment-friendly quality and cause less air pollution compared to traditional crackers that cause health hazards. ADM (City) Ashok Kumar told TOI that, "The district administration would be issuing temporary licences to traders to set up temporary shops for selling firecrackers, which would be valid only for seven days, from November 8 to 14. He added that the venues would be under the police and district administration scanner to ensure a smooth sale of green crackers. Besides, the stockists have been given 15 days temporary license for stocking the green firecrackers.
Meanwhile, IG (Prayagraj range) KP Singh told TOI that a joint team of SDM and Deputy SP had been assigned to check the records of the stockists of green firecrackers. He added that officials had also been asked to check fire management at godown as well as open venues where the sale of green firecrackers would be held.
The sellers are also required to keep adequate fire-fighting equipment like sand-filled buckets, fire extinguishers and water near their shops. The fire department has also been alerted to ensure that in the event of a fire outbreak, people can be evacuated quickly—further, the management will arrange for separate gates for the entry and exit of customers. The officials of the fire department have also been asked to deploy fire tenders at these venues. Moreover, the men-in-khaki have also intensified vigil at the spots where firecrackers are being manufactured in the district including Mauaima, Phulpur and Soraon. Police teams have been asked to conduct surprise checks to ensure that there would be no illegal storage of firecrackers and taking strict action against the violation of norms.