Will penalise officials, traders if safety norms flouted: CM

The government of Karnataka, India, has decided that firecracker traders must renew their licenses annually instead of every five years, following a recent firecracker incident that claimed 14 lives. The chief minister has also directed the fire department to inspect all firecracker godowns (warehouses) in the state and shut down those that do not comply with safety regulations. Traders will now also be required to obtain No Objection Certificates from the police and fire departments when renewing their licenses. The government is taking these measures to ensure that safety guidelines are followed and to prevent future accidents.