Pune Municipal Corporation has begun inspecting unauthorised firecracker stalls operating in crowded neighbourhoods, on footpaths and along busy roads ahead of Diwali, after its Disaster Management Department warned that unsafe locations could increase the risk of fires, casualties and property damage.
The Disaster Management Department has asked the PMC’s Encroachment Control Department to act against temporary stalls that do not have the required authorisation or clearances. Following the communication, encroachment officials began inspecting locations across the city, according to a report by Pune Mirror.
The civic body has flagged stalls located in congested residential pockets, commercial areas, near buildings and on roads and pavements. These locations can make emergency response more difficult and increase the possibility of a fire spreading to nearby shops, homes and other structures, particularly in dense areas with narrow lanes and limited open space.
For this year’s Diwali season, the PMC has identified 11 locations where 184 firecracker stalls have been permitted to operate. The designated sites generally include open grounds, vacant spaces and approved areas along the riverbed. Under the civic body’s policy, firecracker stalls are not permitted in densely populated residential zones.
The approved vendors are required to comply with 40 conditions before setting up their outlets. These include maintaining an approximately three-metre gap between adjoining sales units and keeping stalls at least 10 metres away from main roads and other establishments. The conditions are intended to limit the risk of fire spreading and preserve access around the vending areas.
Despite the designated-site framework, stalls have reportedly appeared in central peth areas such as Sadashiv Peth, Narayan Peth and Shaniwar Peth, as well as in suburban neighbourhoods. The reported violations raise a practical enforcement issue for the PMC: the city has established approved locations and operating conditions, but temporary commercial activity continues to emerge outside that framework during the peak festive period.
The municipal inspection drive is therefore focused not only on licensing but also on the relationship between seasonal vending and the city’s built form. A firecracker outlet placed close to residential buildings, shops or a busy road can expose more people and property to risk than one located in an open, designated area. Streets, pavements and narrow lanes may also be obstructed, affecting pedestrian movement and access for emergency services.
The Disaster Management Department has cautioned that an emergency at an unauthorised location could lead to serious casualties and damage, especially where buildings and shops are situated close together. The Encroachment Control Department’s inspections are expected to identify violations and enable action against stalls operating outside the permitted framework.
