A senior TNFRS official says the department has received 9,549 applications this year.
| Photo Credit: File photo
The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) Department has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to 6,630 temporary firecracker shops across the State for the upcoming Deepavali festival.
Applicants who have obtained NOCs must still secure trade licences from the District Revenue Officer (DRO) in their respective districts or from the Commissioner of Police in cities before commencing operations, officials clarified.
A senior TNFRS official said the department had received 9,549 applications for temporary cracker shops this year. Among these, 6,630 were approved, 2,499 were under process, and 401 were rejected as of Friday. Last year, the department received over 10,000 applications and issued 6,585 NOCs across the State.
In the northern region, which includes Chennai, 1,036 applications have been received so far, of which 416 have been cleared and 600 are pending. “These will be processed soon,” the officer said.
According to the TNFRS guidelines, a shop cannot operate solely based on an NOC and a valid police licence is also mandatory. The fireworks must be stored only in non-flammable, enclosed, and secure sheds to prevent unauthorised access. Each shed must be located at least three metres apart and fifty metres away from any protected structure, and they should not face each other.
The use of oil lamps, gas lamps, or open flames in or near the sheds is strictly prohibited. Only fixed electrical lighting attached to walls or ceilings is permitted, with switches mounted firmly and a master switch provided for each row of shops.
The department also warned that storing or selling fireworks in wedding halls, commercial complexes, or residential buildings is not allowed. If imported or Chinese-made crackers are found in their stock, the NOC will be immediately cancelled, and legal action will be taken against the licence-holder, it added.
Published – October 11, 2025 10:38 pm IST
