Diwali Celebrations After 2 Years, 21 Locations Identified In Bhubaneswar For Sale Of Firecrackers

Bhubaneswar: After two years of ban on Diwali celebrations due to the COVID pandemic, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allowed the sale and bursting of firecrackers this year.

According to sources, the civic body has identified 21 locations in Odisha’s capital, including a field near the Nandankanan office at Saheed Nagar, Kasturba Sikhyashram, Indira Maidan at Nayapalli, space in front of Laxmisagar police station, ‘melana padia’ and space near Jagannath temple at Pandra, the area near BDA market at Chandrasekharpur, Prasanti Vihar Durga Puja ground and ground near the RTO office in Patia, for the sale of firecrackers.

These sites have been selected as per the SOP of the General Administration department. The sale of crackers will not be allowed in any place other than those identified by the government, said BMC officials.

The BMC has also finalised 32 locations where opera shows, religious functions, and cultural programmes will be allowed during the festival. The number of sites could increase subject to government approval, sources said.

The traders and groups intending to sell firecrackers or organise opera shows or cultural programmes on the identified sites will be required to apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for which three zonal deputy commissioners have been designated to receive applications and allot space after necessary verification.

It is pertinent to mention here that BMC will collect ground rent, trade licence fee, and site cleaning charges. It will also coordinate with Bhubaneswar DCP and fire safety authorities, the electricity department, and Roads and Buildings department for issuing NOC to traders and cultural groups.

Following are the contact details to apply BMC for NOC for sale of firecrackers:

Purandar Nanda (North Zone), the Zonal Deputy Commissioner of BMC can be contacted on mobile number 7978188799 for ward numbers 1 to 14, 16 to 21 and 26.

Rabi Narayan Jethi (South-West Zone), the ZDC of BMC can be contacted on the mobile number 9438300404 for ward numbers 15, 22 to 25, 27, 37, 38, 39, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 62 to 66.

Priyabrata Padhi (South East Zone), the ZDC of BMC can be contacted on the mobile number 9437403707 for ward numbers 28 to 36, 40 to45, 53 to 61 and 67.