40 units sealed in Ghaziabad after SC firecrackers ban - Hindustan Times
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40 units sealed in Ghaziabad after SC firecrackers ban

Hindustan Times | By, Ghaziabad
Oct 10, 2017 11:07 PM IST

In compliance with the Supreme Court order against the ban on sale of crackers till October 31, the Ghaziabad district administration on Tuesday sealed more than 40 establishments of permanent licence holders across the city.

In compliance with the Supreme Court order against the ban on sale of crackers till October 31, the Ghaziabad district administration on Tuesday sealed more than 40 establishments of permanent licence holders across the city.

The Ghaziabad administration on Tuesday sealed nearly 40 dealers of fireworks after the Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.(Sakib Ali/HT Photo)
The Ghaziabad administration on Tuesday sealed nearly 40 dealers of fireworks after the Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.(Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The officials sealed the premises of two firecracker dealers at Kavi Nagar industrial area, both had stocked nearly 580kg each of fireworks. The other sealing was done at Dasna industrial area where nearly 1,200kg of firework stock was sealed.

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“Apart from the major dealers, we also sealed nearly a dozen shops at Ghanta Ghar, Ramte Ram Road and other city areas. None of the dealers or retailers will be allowed to sell fireworks in compliance with the Supreme Court orders,” said Prem Ranjan Singh, joint magistrate, Ghaziabad.

At the fireworks manufacturing hub of Farrukhnagar near Loni, the officials cracked down on 36 establishments holding permanent licences and sealed them. Farrukhnagar is a major manufacturing hub and fireworks from here are sent to NCR and western UP region.

“The permanent licence dealers were sealed as per November 2016 orders of the Supreme Court. They had opened up following the recent September 12 orders. Now, they have been sealed again in compliance of the October 9 order. We have also asked the police and local intelligence officials to keep a check that the sealed premises are not opened up and also no sales are undertaken,” said Atul Kumar, sub divisional magistrate, Loni.

“No licences will be renewed as per the latest court orders,” Kumar added.

In its judgcment on September 12, the apex court had issued directions for limited issuance of number of licences which were allowed in 2016.

“We are not tweaking with the various directions contained in the orders dated September 12, 2017, the effect of that order would not be given during this Diwali and, therefore, we are making it effective only from November 1, 2017. We are conscious of the fact that after the said order was passed, the police may have issued temporary licences. Accordingly, those are suspended forthwith so that there is no further sale in Delhi and NCR,” the court said in its October 9 order.

Following the sealing activity, the dealers and retailers held protests at Ghanta Ghar and Loni.

“We had brought in the stock worth more than Rs10 lakh after paying 28% GST. Now, the entire stock is sealed and we cannot make any sales. We are of the opinion if sales were put on hold why they were allowed during the September 12 interim order. This led retailers and dealers purchase stocks in anticipation of sales during Diwali. Now, our investments are blocked,” said RP Agarwal, a dealer at Kavi Nagar.

The retailers at Ghanta Ghar Ramlila Ground set afire a major stock of fireworks to protest the emerging scenario.

“We have also written a letter to PM Narendra Modi with blood, seeking his intervention to bring relief to our plight. We are left with no option but to continue our protest,” said Ashutosh Gupta, president of Kavi Nagar crackers’ retailers’ association.

Last year, the Ghaziabad administration had issued nearly 590 temporary licences apart from 138 permanent licence holders who are allowed to manufacture and sell. The administration has clarified that no licences would be issued or renewed after the court order.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Peeyush Khandelwal writes on a range of issues in western Uttar Pradesh – from crime, to development authorities and from infrastructure to transport. Based in Ghaziabad, he has been a journalist for almost a decade.

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