Pune Municipal Corporation has begun inspecting unauthorised firecracker stalls operating in crowded neighbourhoods and along busy roads, after its Disaster Management Department warned that unsafe locations could put lives and property at risk during the Diwali season.
The civic body’s Disaster Management Department has asked the Encroachment Control Department to act against temporary firecracker outlets that do not have the required authorisation or fail to comply with prescribed fire-prevention conditions. Inspections have started across the city, according to the report by Pune Mirror.
The locations flagged by the civic administration include congested residential pockets, commercial areas, footpaths, roads and spaces close to buildings. A fire or other emergency at these sites could be harder to control because of the proximity of shops, homes, narrow lanes and heavy pedestrian movement.
For this year’s Diwali season, the PMC has designated 11 locations where 184 firecracker stalls can operate. These spaces are generally open grounds, vacant plots and designated areas along the riverbed. The civic body’s policy does not permit firecracker stalls in densely populated residential zones.
Vendors allotted approved spaces are required to comply with 40 conditions before setting up their outlets. These include maintaining an approximate three-metre gap between adjoining sales units and keeping stalls at least 10 metres away from main roads and other establishments. The requirements are intended to create separation between stalls and reduce the possibility of fire spreading.
Despite the designated vending framework, stalls have reportedly appeared on streets, pavements and narrow lanes in central Pune areas including Sadashiv Peth, Narayan Peth and Shaniwar Peth. Similar outlets have also been reported in suburban neighbourhoods. Their presence has raised questions about enforcement of the PMC’s own seasonal vending guidelines.
The inspections are being carried out by the Encroachment Control Department following the communication from the Disaster Management Department. The exercise is expected to identify stalls operating outside approved locations and enable action against violations of the permitted framework.
The issue places the focus on how temporary festive markets are managed in dense urban areas. Firecracker stalls require not only an approved location but also adequate separation from roads, buildings and neighbouring outlets. In areas with limited street space, unauthorised vending can also affect access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles, although the supplied report does not specify any disruption caused by the stalls.
The PMC has not specified in the supplied report how many unauthorised stalls have been identified or what enforcement action has been taken at each location. The ongoing inspection drive will determine the extent of violations and the action taken against outlets operating outside the 11 designated sites.
