CHENNAI: This Deepavali, no fireworks should be allowed to be sold or hawked on any road or in public places, and no shed or stall should be allowed in front of licensed shops, the Madras High Court has said.
Passing orders on a public interest litigation petition, seeking a direction to the police, civic and Explosives Department officials to grant licence for storing or selling fire crackers only as per the mandatory rules, the First Bench said the Joint Chief Controller of Explosives in Chennai should give licence only after obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Commissioner of Police, Chennai. The Explosives Department should inspect fireworks shops before granting licence.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, said police officers in-charge of a jurisdiction would be responsible for compliance of the court directives and statutory rules. The Judges said construction of fireworks shops should conform to Rule 135 of the Explosive Rules.
Safety distance
A safety distance of 15 metres should be ensured between each shop or premises used for storing explosives. “The responsibility shall vest with the Commissioner of Police and the Joint Chief Controller of Explosives.”
Referring to shops on Bunder Street, Anderson Street, Malayaperumal Street, Stringers Street and Umpherson Street in Chennai, the Bench said: “For this Deepavali season, the existing licensees on these roads shall not store more than 1,000 kg of fireworks at an time.”
Booth system
The shops must have sufficient number of sandbags, water tanks and fire extinguishers.
These conditions shall be over and above those mentioned in Chapter 14 of the Tamil Nadu Fire Service Manual, the Bench said, adding that licences already renewed should not be further renewed unless the licensees strictly complied with the provisions of the Act and Rules.
The Chennai Corporation Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police should consider whether it is possible to shift the present fireworks shops from the congested areas to the open grounds within city limits, and to provide fireworks booth system, which is in operation in cities like Kolkata and Bangalore, the order said.
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