Admn helpless, cracker shops open again in City

Despite the ban order of Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Sinha and City sub-divisional officials, more than 15 shops have once again sprung up in the densely populated Patna City area. The City administration had ordered to close the shops.

More than 200 unauthorised firecracker shops are still running from Paschim Darwaza to City Chowk. Panic had prevailed among traders of firecrackers when a team of subdivisional officers raided shops at Khajekala area under the same police station.

According to guidelines issued by the DM, no firecrackers shops in densely populated residential areas were supposed to do business. Such shops, which have no licence, would not be authorised to run shops, the DM had warned.

Shailendra Kumar Singh, in-charge of Patna City subdivisional office, was shocked to find shops that opened despite the ban orders. "Yes, the shops have once again opened up despite the ban orders," he said.

He added the administration had given the name of shopkeepers, cell numbers and addresses to station house officer (SHO) of Khajekalan police station Prem Sagar to keep a watch on them.

"The administration had issued order that shops should not open in violation of stipulated norms at any cost," Singh said.

"No doubt, the shopkeepers are getting tacit support of local police officers. The administration is still considering whether FIRs should be lodged against shopkeepers or not," he said.

Only four shops had licences issued by the West Bengal government and they had expired over a decade ago. The entire Patna City is packed with firecracker shops and godowns.

Ashok Rajpath - from Paschim Darwaza to City Chowk - is facing massive jam due to unauthorised shops selling firecrackers. What to talk of vehicles, even pedestrians are facing hardship to walk on the road.