AMC Crackdown on Illegal Firecracker-Making Units in Ahmedabad: 300 Units Inspected in 2 Days

Ahmedabad: In the wake of the fatal firecracker factory blast in Ramol, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has launched a citywide fire safety enforcement drive, inspecting nearly 300 industrial and commercial units over the last two days and initiating action against suspected illegal and hazardous operations.

According to AMC, joint teams from the Fire and Emergency Services Department and the Estate and Urban Development Department inspected a total of 299 units across the AMC and AUDA limits on July 19 and 20. The inspections targeted factories, warehouses, godowns and other premises suspected of manufacturing or storing firecrackers without permission.

Immediately after the Ramol incident, AMC teams carried out overnight raids in different parts of the city, during which illegally stored firecrackers were seized and destroyed. The civic body said the crackdown has since been intensified to identify hazardous activities and ensure strict compliance with fire safety norms.

On July 20, officials surveyed 152 units as part of the ongoing drive. During the inspections, several suspected units were found locked, with owners reportedly shutting their premises and leaving the area. AMC said investigations are continuing, and legal action will be taken wherever violations of fire safety rules, illegal activities or unauthorized construction are detected.

A day earlier, on July 19, fire safety teams inspected 147 factories, industries, warehouses and other hazardous units across the city. Following the inspections, 30 notices were issued, including 23 to warehouses and godowns and seven to other units, for violations of fire safety regulations and other non-compliances.

AMC has stated that the special enforcement campaign will continue in the coming days to strengthen public safety, curb hazardous activities and ensure adherence to fire safety norms across the city.

Zone-wise action on July 20

• South West Zone: 14 units inspected. Three units were closed, firecracker-related activity was not found in 10 units, while one unit possessed a valid Building Use (BU) permission.
• North West Zone: Seven units inspected. Two had valid BU permissions, while no firecracker activity was found in the remaining five units.
• Central Zone: Fourteen units were sealed.
• West Zone: Fourteen units inspected. Nine were found to be authorised, while five were served notices to submit required documents within three days and were directed to suspend operations until then.
• East Zone: Fourteen units inspected. No firecracker activity was found in seven units, one manufacturing unit was removed, four units were found to be authorised, while two suspected unauthorised units were asked to produce documents within three days and remain closed until verification.
• South Zone: Eighteen units inspected. Twelve were engaged in activities unrelated to firecrackers, two had authorised construction, while four units were sealed or ordered to stop operations.
• North Zone: Thirty-seven units inspected. Sixteen were carrying out activities other than firecracker-related work. Of the remaining 21 units, seven were functioning as godowns, six of which had authorised construction, while one was served a notice and ordered to remain closed pending verification. Among the 14 units selling firecrackers, two had valid construction approvals, while document verification is underway for the remaining 12 units, which have been directed to suspend operations until the inquiry is completed. DeshGujarat