Pimpri Chinchwad, 26th October 2026: With firecracker stalls set to mushroom across Pimpri Chinchwad ahead of Diwali, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has directed all its ward offices to crack down on vendors selling firecrackers without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade and other mandatory permissions.
The civic administration has instructed officials to conduct joint inspections across their respective jurisdictions, take strict action against unauthorised stalls and ensure that no vendor is allowed to begin sales without the required approvals. Officials have also been asked to submit reports on the action taken.
The crackdown follows concerns over fire safety, particularly after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Kalewadi on January 1, putting patients in nearby hospitals at risk. Earlier this month, firecrackers brought for a shop inauguration in Rupinagar also caught fire, raising further questions about safety arrangements.
Last year, thousands of firecracker stalls reportedly operated across the city during Diwali, but the fire brigade issued NOCs to only 105 applicants. Despite repeated complaints about unauthorised stalls being set up on roads and open plots, enforcement has remained a concern.
Under the provisions governing temporary firecracker sales, the civic fire brigade grants temporary NOCs only to authorised shop units with permanent reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures and shutters. The restrictions are intended to prevent fire hazards and protect lives and property.
The civic administration has received 68 applications for permission to sell firecrackers this year. Of these, 33 applicants have been granted approval, while 28 applications are being processed. The remaining applications are yet to be accounted for in the figures provided.
The fire brigade has urged traders not to set up stalls before obtaining the necessary permissions. Unauthorised vendors could face action, including the seizure of materials.
Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced that municipal and police personnel collect money from unauthorised firecracker stall operators during the festive season. The alleged practice has triggered questions over the enforcement of safety rules, with residents awaiting concrete action from the civic administration.
Venkatesh Durvas, deputy commissioner of the PCMC fire brigade, said ward officials had been instructed in writing to carry out immediate joint inspections, take strict action against vendors operating without permits and prevent firecracker sales from beginning without the necessary approvals.
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