Time's up for illegal cracker stalls

Sound Move: Action is finally being taken against stalls selling firecrackers
that violate the legal noise limit. MiD DAY on Wednesday (below) reported
there were many unauthorised stalls in the city, and that even the
authorised ones were selling loud firecrackers. Pic/Jignesh Mistry

The PMC has so far taken action against 17 cracker stalls and the police against 148 stalls in the city. These stalls include those operating without a licence as well as the ones selling crackers that produce noise beyond the legal 125-decibel limit.
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Trupti Desai, president of social organisation Bhumata Brigade, said much more needed to be done and threatened to stage an agitation at the PMC office if action was not taken against all stalls operating illegally or selling loud crackers.

"Though the drive has started, it should speed up. I am expecting at least 500 cases by Friday," said Desai. "If the drive is not continued, we will agitate before the PMC and Police Commissioner's offices."Ramesh Shelar, head of the Anti-Encroachment Cell, PMC, said the PMC had no plans of going slow on taking action against illegal stalls.

"We started with action against 17 stalls from Thursday noon in Vishrambaug, Dhankawadi and Warje areas," said Shelar. "We have issued permissions to only 486 stalls."He did not specify how many illegal cracker stalls were operating in the city.Chief Fire Officer Prashant Ranpise said the fire brigade had given the PMC all details of illegal stalls.

"Information about 90 stalls has been passed on to Shelar. None of these stalls have licences and many are selling crackers that produce noise over 125 decibels," he said.
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Ranpise said these stalls were in Mahatma Phule Peth, Hadapsar Industrial Estate, Kasba Peth, Aundh, Erandawna, Yerawada, Katraj, Sinhagad Road and Khadki.

Appa Amrale, president of Saras Baug Phataka Dealers Association, welcomed the drive. "Those who are violating the basic rules set for environment safety should stop doing so," said Amrale.
(With inputs from Kumar Siddharth)

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