Amid Diwali celebrations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday seized 166.25 kg of illegal fireworks.
Since October 25, the civil society has confiscated 229.5 kg of illegal firearms. The BMC licensing department last week launched a drive to eradicate illegal firecrackers from Mumbai.
According to public information, of the illegal explosives raids last week, 43 kg were seized from K/West wards (Andheri, Juhu, Versova), 22 kg from G/South wards (Worli, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi) and 18 kg from in L ward (Kurla).
BMC data shows that no illegal explosives have been seized from M/East (Govandi, Mankhurd), N (Ghatkopar), P/North (Malad), G/North (Dadar, Mahim), C (Kalbadevi) and A ( Fort, Nariman Point, Marine Drive) wards.
“The municipal corporation guidelines mandate a specific license to sell fire extinguishers and an NOC from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). The companies that sell crackers did not have these documents and the crackers sold by them are also obtained through illegal means,” said a community official.
BMC officials are adamant that the crackdown campaign will continue during the Christmas holidays.
Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner and government appointed director Bhushan Gagrani has issued an order stating that bursting of firecrackers will be allowed only between 8 pm and 10 pm on the day of Diwali.