PMC Earns Over Rs 39 Lakh by e-license facility for firecracker stalls : Check Details

Pune Municipal Corporation allocated 173 firecracker stalls through an online auction, generating around Rs 39 lakh, an all-time record.

Civic officials said the civic body generates around Rs 20 to 25 lakh every year through offline auction. This year, nearly Rs 15 lakh more was collected after switching to online mode.

The civic body conducted auctions on October 30 and 31. An online auction system for firecracker stalls has been launched for better management of open spaces for sale of firecrackers.

Overuse of space has also been avoided and care must be taken when arranging the stands.

The winner of the auction will have to furnish a no-objection certificate from the fire department and other departments before the actual installation of the grandstand.

Open spaces such as public lands and utility spaces are leased for this purpose. The artillery seller found that the new system was good, but it should have been introduced earlier.

One trader said many traders could not participate because of the introduction at the eleventh hour.

This system should be a regular practice. There needs to be more awareness on this topic to get a better response.

According to civic officials, permissions are given based on the Bombay high court directives, with an aim to reduce the number of stalls at risky locations across the city.

Shreyas Vange

(Source – TOI)