Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) saw a decrease in the number of temporary fireworks displays sellers for Diwali 2024. So far, the fire and emergency services have issued temporary no-objection certificates (NOCs) to 740 vendors, allowing them to open shops across the city – 70 less than last year, when 844 sellers received permission. Currently, 34 applications are still pending due to incomplete payments, while the ministry has rejected 284 applications for various reasons. The department earned Rs 30.48 lakh as fees by issuing these demands. Temporary NOCs.
The rejection of the requests reflects stricter scrutiny by the fire department, which is enforcing stricter adherence to safety and documentation protocols.
The number of fireworks vendors has generally fluctuated in recent years. In 2021, there were 665 temporary sellers, a figure increasing in 2023, before this year’s decline. Experts point out that stricter regulations, particularly on pollution control and safety, could contribute to the decline in the number of licensed sellers.
Last year, the regulations were particularly strict. Fireworks could only be used for two hours during Diwali, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and vendors were required to sell only less polluting green crackers. Additionally, sellers could keep their stores open until 11 p.m. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has also demanded that only firecrackers with noise levels below 125 decibels could be sold. These regulations likely contributed to slowing sales last year, leading to fewer suppliers seeking licensing this year.
This year, the fire department has rejected 284 applications due to various documentation issues. One of the common reasons for refusal was failure to upload current year tax receipts or required rent NOC. Unpaid tax payments for the financial year 2024-25, incomplete or erroneous forms such as unsigned self-declarations on Rs 100 stamp paper and duplicate applications were common hurdles for applicants.
Name discrepancies between tax receipts and ACs, missing fire extinguisher certificates or failure to provide ACs to the police from previous years were also important reasons for rejection. Sellers were further hampered by unclear documents, incorrect mobile numbers or the absence of NOCs from neighbors or building owners.
As the NMC continues to process the remaining applications, the fire department is ensuring that vendors comply with fire safety regulations, particularly regarding the storage and sale of fireworks. Inspections are carried out regularly to minimize the risk of fire during the festive period.
With over 800 permanent vendors already operating in Nagpur, an additional 740 temporary vendors take the total number of fireworks workshops to over 1,500 this Diwali season. The NMC emphasizes the importance of accurate and complete documentation to prevent future releases, while continuing to enforce strict safety measures.