CUTTACK: With just a few days left for Diwali, the Commissionerate Police has stepped up measures to check mishaps and banned opening of cracker shops in populated areas or on the roadsides in main thoroughfares of the City. As per the decision, firecracker shops can only be set up at open spaces.According to the guidelines issued by the CP, temporary cracker shops should maintain three metre distance from each other and 50 metres from the road or any establishment. The entrance of the shops should not face each other.
A maximum of 50 shops can be set up in one cluster and safety distance of 50 metres should be maintained between clusters, the guidelines stated.“We have identified 30 open spaces under different police stations within the limits of Cuttack Urban Police Department (UPD) where licence can be issued for opening of fireworks shops,” said DCP Akhilesvar Singh.No fireworks shop will be allowed to be set up at the roadside, on lanes, slums and close to residential areas, Singh added.
Any person wishing to avail licence for opening crackers shop should obtain permission from competent authority of the land concerned first, he informed.The police has also restricted the use of crackers generating sound beyond the prescribed limit of 125 decibel and banned import or marketing of illegal and hazardous fireworks and crackers.Any deviation from the guidelines will be dealt with stringent action, Singh said.