Firecracker stalls in Hyd flout safety norms
In Short
Firecracker vendors across major commercial hubs in Hyderabad are flouting GHMC and Fire Department safety norms ahead of Diwali, raising severe safety concerns.
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Firecracker stalls in Hyd flout safety norms
Hyderabad: Setting off alarm bells ahead of Diwali, several firecracker vendors across Hyderabad, including temporary stalls, are flouting mandatory fire safety norms, raising concerns over the safety of residents, shoppers, and commuters in their vicinity. It appears that guidelines issued by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), police, and the Fire Department are taken for granted; for, only a handful of vendors appear to have made adequate safety arrangements at their stalls.
The Hans India found brazen violations at several firecracker outlets operating in different parts of the city. From Begum Bazar and General Bazar to Balanagar, Monda Market, Hussainialam, Saidabad, and to Dilsukhnagar, several of these temporary stalls were found lacking essential fire safety equipment and precautionary measures.
The mushrooming of such firecracker shops, literally ticking bombs and firebombs, in congested commercial areas and along busy roads, has raised questions about the enforcement of safety regulations. A roadside firecracker stall in Begum Bazar, for instance, was found operating without basic fire safety equipment, posing a grave threat to nearby establishments and passers-by.
According to the Fire Services Department, obtaining a fire licence requires vendors to fulfil mandatory safety conditions, including setting up stalls under tin sheds and keeping fire extinguishers and sand buckets readily available to tackle emergencies. Shops must also maintain a minimum distance of 15 metres from one another and should not face each other. However, several temporary structures are operating in violation of these norms.
