Ulhasnagar: Congress block president Pawan Mirani has urged the municipal administration and police to take immediate action against alleged illegal storage and sale of fireworks in densely populated residential and market areas of Ulhasnagar.

Mirani said fireworks were allegedly being stored in narrow lanes, multi-storey residential buildings, basements and unauthorised sheds, including locations near schools and hospitals. He expressed concern over the potential safety risks posed by large stocks being kept in congested areas without adequate precautions.

He alleged that licences for some firework shops and godowns had been routinely renewed at the same locations for years without proper physical inspections. Mirani demanded that the practice be stopped and that joint inspections be conducted by the police, fire brigade, municipal corporation and explosives authorities.

He called for licences of establishments found violating prescribed safety distances or storage limits to be suspended or cancelled. He also sought raids and sealing of illegal godowns, seizure of unauthorised stocks and registration of cases against those responsible.

Mirani further demanded that details of licensed firework premises be made public and that the fire brigade conduct surprise inspections during the festive season. He urged the District Collector to scrutinise each licence individually before renewal.

He also called for accountability of officials found renewing licences without proper inspections or failing to act against alleged illegal storage.

Mirani said strict enforcement was necessary in view of Ulhasnagar’s high population density and congested residential areas, particularly during the festive season when the storage and sale of fireworks increase.