Jalandhar, October 25: A fresh development has emerged in the ongoing dispute over the proposed temporary Diwali firecracker market at Raowali village on Pathankot Road. Firecracker traders and their associations have expressed their willingness to hold discussions with the village panchayat and resolve the disagreement through mutual understanding. The move comes after a court temporarily restricted the establishment and operation of the market, leaving traders uncertain about their business arrangements ahead of Diwali.
Representatives of the firecracker trade associations said they have no intention of entering into a confrontation with the village panchayat. They maintained that the concerns raised by local residents deserve attention and assured that all reasonable safety instructions issued by the panchayat would be followed. The traders also expressed their readiness to cooperate with the sarpanch and other elected panchayat members to ensure that the proposed market does not compromise the safety or convenience of villagers.
Addressing questions surrounding alleged financial dealings, the traders categorically denied making any payment to the village panchayat, sarpanch or panchayat members. They clarified that no financial compensation had been offered or paid to any panchayat representative in connection with the proposed market. According to the associations, the panchayat had not demanded money from them either. The traders described claims suggesting otherwise as incorrect and said they wanted to prevent misunderstandings from affecting efforts to resolve the dispute.
The associations further explained that the land selected for the temporary market had been taken on rent through an arrangement with its owner. They stated that the agreed rental amount had already been paid to the landowner. Additionally, compensation had reportedly been provided to the farmer who had cultivated crops on the land. The traders emphasised that these payments were connected solely to the use of the property and crop-related losses, and did not involve the village panchayat or its elected representatives.
The disagreement centres on approximately 5.5 acres of land in Raowali village, where arrangements were being made to establish a temporary firecracker market for the Diwali season. The location had been selected as part of the arrangements for shifting the seasonal market from its earlier site at Burlton Park. However, objections raised by the village panchayat and residents brought the proposed arrangement under legal scrutiny, creating uncertainty over whether the market could operate at the designated location.
On October 23, the court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Gurpreet Singh reportedly issued an interim order restraining the establishment and operation of the firecracker market at the disputed site until the next hearing. The matter is scheduled to come up before the court again on October 29. The order has placed the traders in a difficult position, as preparations for the seasonal market were already underway and the remaining time before Diwali is limited.
With the next hearing approaching, the traders are now hoping that direct discussions with the panchayat will help address the objections and establish a mutually acceptable arrangement. They have indicated that they are prepared to follow applicable safety requirements and cooperate with the authorities. Their stated priority is to find a solution that protects villagers while allowing lawful business activity to proceed.
A settlement between the parties could potentially help resolve the underlying dispute. However, any agreement would still need to be handled through the appropriate legal process, and the existing court restrictions would remain applicable unless modified or lifted by the court. An understanding with the panchayat alone would not automatically permit the market to begin operating.
For the traders, the coming days will be important as the October 29 hearing approaches. The outcome of discussions with the village panchayat, along with further directions from the court and district administration, will determine whether the proposed Raowali firecracker market can move forward this Diwali. Until then, the traders' willingness to negotiate represents a possible opening towards resolving the disagreement, rather than a final settlement.
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