6,810 applications across Tamil Nadu to set up cracker shops

CHENNAI: The fire and rescue department have received 6,810 applications from traders across the state to put up cracker shops for Diwali. Of these, the department has issued no objection certificates to 6,111 applications after scrutiny.
Chennai has 890 applicants, followed by Coimbatore (703) and Salem (520 shops). At least 285 applications were rejected and 414 applications are awaiting approval, sources said.
Last year, the fire and rescue department received 6,109 applications.Of them, the officials issued NoC to 5,783 traders to sell crackers, while 326 application were withheld as they violated the norms prescribed by the fire personnel.
In Chennai suburban, the extended Chennai commissionerate has received 210 applications, Chennai south received 362 applications, central got 196 and 132 applications came in from Chennai north. At least 11 applications have been rejected in the city and 160 applications are pending approval.
Of the 25 other districts excluding Chennai city, Coimbatore and Salem, Cuddalore district has received 353 applications, Erode (300), Virudhu Nagar (362), Pudukottai (288), Nagapatinnam (293), Thiruvarur (239), Thanjavur (254), Namakkal (275), and Tiruppur (224).
There are only 18 traders from Kanyakumari who have approached the fire department to put up cracker shops. This was followed by Tenkasi district which received 20 applications.
Fire and rescue personnel director and DGP Karan Singha conducted meetings with senior fire officers to take stock of the situation. A senior fire services officer said, "We are expecting another 1,000 more applications, as our men are working round-the-clock to clear all the pending applications."