Fire dept gets just 18 applications for sale, storage of crackers in Ahmedabad days before Diwali

With less than five days left for Diwali, the Ahmedabad Fire Department has received only 18 applications for the sale and storage of firecrackers — and not a single fire safety certificate has been issued so far due to lack of proper communication between the stakeholders. 

This was confirmed by Chief Fire Officer Amit Dongre, who explained that the disinterest stems from differing interpretations of a government circular.

A circular issued by the Deputy Secretary of the State Urban Development Department grants the power to approve firecracker storage and sale at the municipal level to the chief fire officer. However, this circular is being interpreted differently by various stakeholders, leading to delays in the certification process.

Dongre stated that while the department has received 18 applications, only opinions—not certificates—have been issued in each case. He further clarified that, as per his understanding, units operating on less than 500 square metres of area require only an opinion from the fire department, not a formal certificate.

“The circular from the Urban Development Department specifically mentions providing a clear opinion regarding fire safety,” Dongre said. “Based on this, the fire department is adhering strictly to offering only advisory opinions in such cases.”