JAMMU: Taking a firm stance on firecracker regulations ahead of Diwali, District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya today directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates to inspect all firecracker godowns and submit action taken reports within three days, warning of strict legal action against violations. During a comprehensive Diwali preparedness meeting, the DM emphasised zero tolerance for deviations from safety norms. “All SDMs must thoroughly inspect licensed firecracker godowns in their jurisdictions and take immediate legal action against any violations discovered. Action taken reports must also be submitted within three days,” he instructed. The DM’s directives specifically focussed on ensuring strict compliance with licence conditions by both sellers and storekeepers. Officers were told to verify proper storage practices and maintain vigilant oversight of temporary firecracker stalls being set up across the district. The meeting also outlined broader festival preparations, with the Fire Services Department being tasked to deploy fire tenders at strategic locations for emergency response. Traffic management measures were discussed, including potential vehicle movement restrictions during peak festival days. Addressing civic concerns, the DM instructed the Jammu Municipal Corporation to implement a special cleanliness drive throughout the festive period. The high-level meeting saw participation from Additional District Magistrate Ansuya Jamwal, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Faisal Qureshi, along with Sub-Divisional Magistrates and senior officers from various departments.
