Pune: PMC is considering a ban on aerial firecrackers in the city, with officials citing fire safety concerns and a spike in air pollution this festive season.The proposed move comes amid a demand for Mumbai-like restrictions from former additional chief secretary (urban development) T C Benjamin. Also the former civic chief of the city, he wrote to the civic administration seeking curbs on rockets and other aerial fireworks in densely populated residential areas.Pavneet Kaur, additional commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said, “We are seriously looking into problems caused by aerial firecrackers in the city and planning to impose a ban on these. The decision should be out on Monday after discussing it with the commissioner.”The other additional municipal commissioner, Prajit Nair, said Thane Municipal Corporation had done a good job of banning aerial firecrackers this Diwali. “Even the AQI (air quality index) spiked in Pune this year. Hence, we are considering a similar ban for next year as this festive season is already over,” he said.Benjamin, currently the chairperson of Marigold Phase II Society in Kalyaninagar, told TOI that an aerial rocket firecracker landed near the electrical transformer infrastructure and triggered a blaze in his society. It severely damaged power cables and caused a power outage lasting nearly seven hours. Residents across the city faced similar issues of aerial fireworks causing fires on balconies and in open plots, with the fire brigade needing to be called to douse the flames.Urging PMC and Pune fire brigade to take preventive measures before such incidents result in a major tragedy, Benjamin requested PMC in his letter to survey vulnerable high-rise and residential pockets, and issue strict area-specific restrictions or an outright ban on aerial fireworks, especially near electrical installations and residential terraces. He also called for the deployment of local ward officers to enforce safety protocols.“What happened in the society was an eye-opener for us and our disaster preparedness. We doused the fire with the help of security personnel. By the time the fire brigade arrived, all the cables were burnt. The administration needs to act proactively and ban these air-borne crackers to prevent catastrophic events in the future,” Benjamin told TOI.Similar incidents of fire in balconies, terraces and even open plots because of firecrackers were reported from across the city. Ganesh Sonune, the chief fire officer of the PMC fire brigade, said the department received 94 calls related to fires caused by firecrackers between 3pm on Laxmi Pujan day and 7am the following day.A resident from Panchavati, Pashan, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were sleeping when a rocket exploded inside their balcony, and the parasol caught fire. “The blaze didn’t spread. We had clothes drying on the stand in our balcony. What if that had caught fire and it had spread? Celebrations are fine, but putting someone’s life at risk in the name of celebrations is not. Bursting crackers in dense residential areas is extremely risky,” he said.“The next day, because of crackers, dry leaves on an open plot next to our building caught fire and the fire brigade had to be called. Such irresponsible behaviour has to stop,” he said.
