SAS Nagar, October 21: Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Ms Ashika Jain today conducted the draw for issuance of provisional licenses at District Administrative Complex, SAS Nagar, Mohali by the committee constituted for issuing 44 provisional licenses to the people for sale of firecrackers in District Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar. The draw was conducted in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Viraj S Tidke, SDM Mohali Damandeep Kaur, Assistant Commissioner (General) Ankita Kansal, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Deepankar Garg and other officers and general public and applicants in a transparent and fair approach. The draw process was conducted with videography.

It is worth noting that the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as per its order and the directions issued from time to time by the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, has directed to issue only 20 percent licenses as compared to those issued in 2016. After the draw, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Ashika Jain said that the administration received a total of 1611 applications for 44 licenses across the district, out of which 1600 were found valid. She informed that 50 applications were received for 4 licenses for sale of firecrackers in Mohali and Banur. 21 applications were received for license to sell firecrackers in Kharar, Kurali and Naya Gaon. While 209 applications were received for license to sell firecrackers in Derabassi, Lalru and Zirakpur. Ms. Ashika Jain reiterated her commitment for smooth sale of firecrackers in the district and said that only 13 places have been allotted for sale of firecrackers in the district.

Sale of firecrackers will not be allowed anywhere other than these places. The District Magistrate clarified that no one will be allowed to burst firecrackers before or after the stipulated time and sale of firecrackers without license. It is worth noting that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has banned the issuance of permanent licenses to firecracker traders without the approval of the court. Apart from this, the number of provisional licenses issued has also been limited. The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate said that firecrackers/crackers will be allowed only within the prescribed limits on Diwali day on October 31 from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm and on Guruparva day on November 15 from 4.00 am to 5.00 am and in the evening from 09.00 pm to 10.00 pm. Firecrackers/crackers will be allowed to burn only within the prescribed limits on Christmas Day 25 and 26 December from 11:55 pm to 12:30 pm and on New Year from 31 December 2024 to 01 January 2025 only from 11:55 pm to 12:30 pm. No resident shall burst crackers before or after this date and time and shall also obey the orders of the honourable court.
He said that on the occasion of Deepawali, stalls are allowed to be set up only at designated places from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm on 29, 30 and 31 October and from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm on 15 November. On the occasion of Gurupurv, no person shall illegally store crackers/firecrackers and sell them without a licence. The designated places and main conditions for selling crackers and more information can be seen on the website www.sasnagar.nic.in.