Who regulates balloon sellers in Pune? No one, it seems

PMC officials say that since the sellers don’t have a fixed location or an established set-up, their activities are not governed by the civic body. “May be Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health is monitoring their activities as these sellers are using explosives,” said a senior official with PMC.

When contacted, officers with DISH said they only regulated establishments covered under the Factories Act, 1948, such as safety and security of the manufacturing units which involve explosives. They said retail sale of gases and explosives was not their concern.

Sudarshan Kamal, chief controller of explosives at Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), a department under Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries which governs the sale of gases in the country, said, “We monitor sellers who sell various gases, but not the people who buy from them since there are multiple uses of hydrogen ranging from hospitals to scuba diving. Many people buy the gas. But if the quantity exceeds a certain limit, they need to have a license. Unless the quantity is high, we cannot actually keep a watch on the buyers who are in thousands. But yes, there are certain guidelines for the vendors.”

Officials of the Fire Brigade and Pune police said they came into picture only if “an incident occurs”.

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