Mohali administration gives 44 permits to put up stalls

MOHALI: The Mohali administration has dispensed licences to 44 shop keepers for putting up cracker stalls in the city. It had received around 600 applications for setting up of temporary fireworks shops.
Criminal cases would be registered against illegal stall owners, said Mohali deputy commissioner (DC) Gurpeet Kaur Sapra.
Like last year, licenses were dispensed through draw of lots that was held at administrative complex on Monday.
Sapra said, "We have issued 44 licenses to the applicants. We have reduced the number licences and stall sites in order to discourage the public from bursting crackers following restriction by the Punjab and Haryana high court." She added that Section 144 of the CrPC bans illegal sale of crackers.
The DC said, "Orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court will be followed religiously, and efforts will be made for the implementation of orders of restricting bursting of crackers between 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm strictly."
Sapra said all sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and deputy superintendent of police (DSPs) had been directed to identify cracker sale spots in their respective areas and submit a report if they find any illegal stall being put up.
The deputy commissioner said, "There is complete ban on selling of crackers without obtaining requisite licences. We will get criminal cases registered against shop owners, who do not comply with the district magistrate (DM)orders for selling crackers illegally. No permission will be given to put up even small stalls of crackers outside shops in various markets or outside houses."
Five sites have been earmarked in Mohali for setting up of temporary cracker stalls. Parking lot of Bassi Theatre in Phase-II, YPS Crossing Park in Phase-VIII, apni mandi ground in Phase-XI, open ground in Sohana and Government Senior Secondary School ground in Banur.
One site each in Derabassi, Handesra, Lalru and Zirakpur have been marked and three sites in Kharar subdivision.