AMC Gives Conditional Nod to Reopen Sealed Firecracker Shops for Raksha Bandhan Business

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Thursday took a key decision to allow certain sealed firecracker shops to reopen temporarily for seasonal Raksha Bandhan business, subject to strict conditions.

Announcing the decision after the weekly Standing Committee meeting, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel said the civic body had sealed shops engaged in the firecracker trade following the Ramol firecracker factory blaze if they lacked mandatory approvals such as a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), Building Use (BU) permission and police permission.

With Raksha Bandhan approaching, several traders whose shops had been sealed made representations to the AMC, stating that they currently had no firecrackers in stock and wanted to sell seasonal items such as rakhis.

Considering their request, the Standing Committee decided that such shopkeepers would be allowed to reopen their premises after furnishing a bond undertaking that they would not engage in the sale or storage of firecrackers. They will be permitted to carry out only seasonal businesses other than the firecracker trade and must comply with all applicable government rules and regulations.

Patel clarified that only traders possessing all the mandatory approvals, including a valid BU permission, Fire NOC and police permission, will be allowed to conduct firecracker business in Ahmedabad. DeshGujarat