Andra Pradesh State fire safety department to keep tight vigil on cracker shops

With Diwali just around the corner, the State fire safety department is focusing on godown operators and firecracker sellers.
Image used for representational purpose
Image used for representational purpose

VIJAYAWADA: With Diwali just around the corner, the State fire safety department is focusing on godown operators and firecracker sellers. The department is planning to allot specific areas for the sale of crackers. The fire safety department has issued a few rules regarding the safety measures to be undertaken  to be followed by all the shopkeepers while storing and selling fire crackers. The godowns and shops containing fire crackers should be in an open market and not in congested localities. 

Shopkeepers are not allowed to install their shops in residential and commercial areas.
The godowns and shops can be there under single-storeyed buildings. Fire safety measures should be followed as stipulated by the National Building Code. All the district fire officers should ensure strict compliance of the following instructions.According To fire officials, care is being taken to maintain at least three meters distance between the shops. Water, sand and a mini water tank are being made available at the shops for immediate assistance. 

Due to GST, the prices of firecrackers has shot up and those installing shops to sell crackers has significantly nosedived. The fire department is also concentrating on the sale and storage of fireworks in manufacturing units in Vijayanagaram, Anakapalli , Guntur and Nellore. There are four companies that manufacture fireworks locally and nearly 45,000 major,  medium and small shops are registered every year for the sale of firecrackers. The fire department monitors the firecracker shops every year. 

Of the 3,575 major wholesale shops who have applied for a licence till date, most of them are from Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam and Kadapa. As many as 9,000 members from Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry have applied for a license for setting up wholesale shops.   
 Regional fire officer P.Murali Mohan said that Diwali is a festival of light celebrated with much pomp. Awareness among the public is must to ensure their safety.  

Bid to ensure a safe and happy Diwali

To ensure a safe Diwali, the fire department has selected a few places in various towns and cities away from residential, commercial and congested areas to allow the sales of firecrackers and prevent any untoward incident. 

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