Mohali, Oct. 16 -- The district administration will issue 43 temporary licences for firecracker sales after conducting a draw at the District Administrative Complex in Sector 76 on Thursday. Deputy commissioner Komal Mittal said 2,118 applications were received for the licences, of which 2,097 were found valid. The draw was conducted in the presence of officials and members of the public under videography to ensure transparency. Of the total licences, 18 are for Mohali and Banur, seven for Kharar and Kurali, six for Dera Bassi, and 12 for Lalru and Zirakpur. No draw was held for Nayagaon, as no applications were received. In Zirakpur, all eight applications received will be considered for the eight available licences. The administration has designated 15 sites for firecracker sales across the district. Sales at unauthorised locations and without a licence will not be permitted. According to the administration, firecrackers can be burst on Diwali, November 8, from 8pm to 10pm, and on Gurpurab, November 24, from 4am to 5am and 9pm to 10pm, within prescribed noiselimits. The Punjab and Haryana high court has restricted the number of temporary licences and barred permanent licences without its approval....