RDO GV Satyanvani warns illegal cracker shops of action

Gudivada: Stern action will be taken against the illegal cracker shops in view of the forthcoming Dipawali celebrations, said GV Satyanvani, RDO. She addressed a meeting at her office on Monday in which fire cracker shop owners, personnel of the departments of the police, revenue and the fire participated. The meeting was held in connection with the issue of licences to cracker shops.

Explaining the precautions to be taken by the cracker shop owners, the RDO said that every shop should keep 20 litres of water, 12 sand bags and a fire extinguisher. In case of untoward incidents of fire, the shop owner and the officials concerned will be held responsible.

The shopkeepers can apply for setting up shops through e-Pragati App and necessary fee can also be paid online till November 3. The RDO instructed the officials to seize the shops, which run against the rules and regulations.

``Every shop should prominently display the boards including No Smoking, Beware of Pickpockets and the mobile numbers of the police and fire personnel,” she said and added that there should be a 3-metre distance between the shops.

Every shopkeeper should install CCTV cameras in their shops, she said and suggested to the shopkeepers that the fire crackers should be sold only on November 6 and 7. As per the directive of the Supreme Court, people should fire the crackers only between 8 pm and 10 pm, she added.

Later, the RDO, along with Divisional Fire Officer K Kranti Kumar, CI Venkateswara Rao and Tahsildar Papamma, visited the ground where the fire cracker shops would be allowed to be set up. She instructed the officials to leave parking space for the vehicles and entry and exit routes should be fixed.