THANE: Shiv Sena corporator Parisha Sarnaik has asked Thane municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao to strictly enforce the ban on bursting firecrackers on public roads and footpaths in the city, and to stop firecracker stalls from being set up along roads during Diwali.
In a memorandum submitted to the civic chief, Sarnaik said such measures were needed to curb pollution in Thane, especially in the backdrop of rising pollution levels in Mumbai.
Fire risk from roadside stalls
About 15 days before Diwali and through the festival, a large number of legal and illegal firecracker shops come up along the city’s main roads, Sarnaik pointed out. Most of these stalls have no fire safety arrangements, and the possibility of loss of life in case of an accident cannot be ruled out, she said.
Given the danger these roadside shops pose, she has demanded action against illegal firecracker stalls and greater vigilance over shops set up along roads.
Noise troubles children, elderly and animals
Sarnaik said loud firecrackers during Diwali cause distress to children, senior citizens, and animals and birds, and that constant noise is known to increase stress. She has urged the civic chief to coordinate with police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre and frame a policy for action against people who burst firecrackers on roads and in silence zones.
Letters to Vartak Nagar and Chitalsar police
Sarnaik has also written to the senior inspectors of Vartak Nagar and Chitalsar police stations, requesting strict enforcement of the ban on bursting firecrackers.
She pointed out that the stretch covering the Upvan lake area, Gawand Baug, Payladevi Mandir Road and Krantiveer Birsa Munda Marg up to Dr Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha has a large number of residential societies. To ensure strict enforcement in these areas, she has sought a joint meeting of local corporators and representatives of political parties.