The District Magistrate of Jalandhar, Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, has identified two new locations for the temporary cracker markets that will operate during Diwali this year. The sites selected are Chara Mandi at Lamba Pind and the grounds of Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School on Nakodar Road.
Traditionally, the city’s cracker market has been set up at Burlton Park. However, owing to ongoing construction and renovation work at the park, the venue has been deemed unsuitable for hosting the market this year. Following a feasibility report submitted by the Municipal Corporation, alternative sites were assessed and finalized.
Dr. Aggarwal stated that the new locations were chosen after reviewing factors such as accessibility, space availability and safety compliance. He emphasized that the shift is temporary and strictly for this festive season. “The Municipal Corporation examined the possible sites, and keeping feasibility in mind, Chara Mandi Lamba Pind and Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School Ground have been approved for the cracker markets,” he said.
The District Magistrate has directed the concerned departments to ensure strict compliance with the Explosive Rules, 2008. He further instructed the Commissioner of Police, the Municipal Corporation, and the Fire Department to coordinate and put in place all necessary safety and security measures.
The instructions also follow a directive from the Industries and Commerce Department, which had issued detailed guidelines to be adhered to during the organization of cracker markets. Authorities have been asked to ensure that fire safety norms, crowd management plans and other precautionary measures are in place before vendors are allotted spaces.
The administration has also appealed to both traders and residents to cooperate with the guidelines and ensure that the celebrations remain safe and incident-free.
This year’s Diwali cracker market is expected to open closer to the festival dates, with officials confirming that vendors will be permitted only after securing the required licenses and approvals.