Retailers began selling firecrackers at designated places earmarked across the steel city on Thursday after the state pollution control board issued a directive limiting the time of bursting crackers to two hours on Diwali, Chhath and Christmas.
As per the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) notification, crackers can be burst between 8pm and 10pm on Diwali on November 14. The sale of firecrackers in Jamshedpur will continue till November 15.
"We are aware of the order. Tomorrow (Friday) we will issue a directive to all police stations to ensure that the guideline issued by the pollution control board is strictly implemented in steel city," said Dhalbhum SDO Nitish Singh.
Singh ordered surprise inspections at all points of sale for crackers to ensure strict adherence to fire safety norms. The district administration has been issued temporary licences to over 250 retailers.
Safety guidelines include selling only at designated points of sale, and keeping sufficient water, sand buckets and small fire extinguishers handy. Shops must maintain safe distance between each other to endure fire tenders would be able to make their way in case of an exigency.
The retailers have been also asked to follow Covid safety norms.
Various police stations have been directed to confiscate crackers if these were being sold at any other place other than the designated sale points.
Wholesalers in Jugsalai had been issued safety guidelines last week.
The two largest common sale points are Aambagan grounds in Sakchi with around 40 firecracker sellers, and the G-Town grounds in Bistupur with around 30 retailers.
Other large sale points are at Baridih Durga Puja maidan (Baridih), Gandhi Maidan (Mango), Ram Mandir grounds (Sonari), RP Patel High School grounds (Jugsalai), N Type Durga Puja maidan and Sabuj Kalyan Sangha grounds (both in Telco), Circus Maidan (Golmuri), Sunday market (Birsanagar) and Burmamines Durga Puja maidan (Burmamines).
Aambagan grounds in Sakchi, which hosts the maximum number of retailers selling crackers, in Jamshedpur on Thursday Picture by Bhola Prasad
