After a blast in Harda factory, 11 firecracker shops were sealed in Bhopal and their NOC was suspended  

 

Surprisingly, no objection certificate (NOC) of fire crackers shops that were earlier sealed by the district administration in February and March 2024 to ensure safety measures around the residential areas is restored. In a move to mandate safety measure around residential areas, 11 firecracker shops were sealed for negligence of required parameters and their NOC was suspended by the district administration. Now, after four months of the incident, out of 11, NOC of six shops have been reinstated. These shops are allowed to sell explosive items in Halalpura market. However, officials said that all these shops will be shifted out of the town or some remote area within a year. According to the reports, District Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh has reinstated NOC of Ambika Fire Work, Deepak Patakha, Madhur Fire Works, Jay Durga Patakha, Kaalu Patakha and Mahadev Patakha Centre.

These shops are allowed to do business in the same area that was once said to be free from firecrackers for safety of the residents.

 

The Collector said that efforts are being made to provide space to shops at outer parts. After investigative report of the concerned area SDM, traders including RK Patakha, Raj Patakha, Soni Patakha Halpura, Verity Fire Works Devki Nagar and Muskan Patakha Karond square did not get their NOC yet. All the 11 shops were sealed by district administration after the fire incident in Harda district. Soonafter the shops are allowed to do business, people started thronging around the area to purchase firecrackers for the wedding season and other celebrations. During year 2018, traders involved in firecracker business demanded a separate space at outer parts of city with the district administration. After the demand was raised, district administration assured the traders to provide space at earliest and team was assigned to find out appropriate place.

 

However nothing has been done yet. Patakha Association President Asandas Chandani said, “Shops in Bairagarh area have arranged all safety measures. Their godown situated at Jamania have sufficient sand, water and other safety material for 24X7.” On February 6, 2024, five people were killed and 40 others injured after a major fire broke out in a firecracker factory in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. Taking a lesson from the incident, the Government had asked all the districts to check safety measures of fire workshop and factories to ensure safety parameters. After this incident, teams were formed to check the shops. SDM teams visited their areas and sealed many shops that failed to fulfill the safety criteria.

 

At the time, officials said that firework shops will be shifted from Halalpura and Bairagarh area as there are many residents. According to the district administration, it is mandatory to have a proper strong shed for sale of firecrackers and its storage and for construction of shed, explosive items like sack, jute, wood, grass, etc should not be used. Unauthorised people should be allowed to enter the shed area and there should be at least three meter of difference between each shop or shed. Petrol station, gas agency or other explosive storage should be at least 15 meters away from the fire cracker shop or storage. Use of gas, lamp or any kind of naked light is restricted around the fire cracker shop and electricity wire should be lying open or damaged. There is maximum 50 shops allowed in one cluster.