Safety rules mean little at firecracker stalls

Mirror check finds widespread disregard for fire safety norms, reluctance to issue valid bills to evade tax at temporary stores

- Kuldeep Tiwari

With Diwali just a week away, firecracker shops are mushrooming across the city, raising serious concerns about the safety of nearby residents and commuters. A Mirror check found that many of these temporary outlets are failing to comply with fire safety norms. Moreover, experts suggest that the booming firecracker trade, worth crores of rupees, is rife with Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion.

According to a fire department official, obtaining a fire licence requires adherence to mandatory safety criteria, including the presence of a tin shade, fire extinguishers and sand buckets to control any potential mishaps. However, Mirror found that many temporary structures in the city are blatantly disregarding these basic requirements.