Guidelines For Crackers Sale Issued

Central Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Akun Sabharwal, on Wednesday, convened a meeting of citizen groups, wholesalers and retailers of fire crackers, and issued guidelines regarding their storage and sale for the upcoming Diwali festival.

Pointing out that in the Central Zone there are 5 bulk suppliers of fire crackers and 26 places - including Exhibition Grounds and People's Plaza - where crackers are sold in large quantities, Sabharwal directed these suppliers and resellers to strictly implement the guidelines to ensure a safe Diwali.

He said that the Explosives Rules 2008 contains regulations like - a stipulated floor area of the shop (9 square metres to 25 square metres), the need for the shop to be located only on the ground floor with separate entrance and exit, the presence of covered electric connections and certification by APCPDCL, a safe distance of 15 metres between storage and sale between two different premises and shops, for the shop or shed to be of non-flammable material (corrugated iron or asbestos sheets), for temporary sheds to be at a distance of a minimum of 3 metres from each other, for there to be no display of fireworks within 50 metres of shop or shed, for there to be no sale of fire crackers to children below 18 years unless accompanied by adult, for there to be no sale of crackers exceeding a noise level of 125 decibels, and the presence of sufficient fire prevention measures and a no objection certificate from the Divisional Fire Officer.

The DCP also announced that applications for the grant of temporary licenses to sell fire crackers should be submitted in Form-5 of the Explosive Rules, before 21 October 2010.

Courtesy: INN