Sadar Bazaar, the biggest firecracker market in the Capital, saw more police personnel than customers making the rounds of the place on Monday afternoon. As the policemen went from shop to shop, closing them down following the Supreme Court's ban on sale of firecrackers in the Capital till November 1, not many sellers or buyers left the place.
Within 15 minutes of the policemen leaving the market, the sellers were back in their shops, the shutters left half open for the customers willing to go in secretly and buy crackers. Some shop owners even sent out some staff with the stock to sell the crackers more discretely in and around Sadar Bazaar.
‘Much-needed respite’
While there was no dearth of people keen to buy firecrackers despite the SC ban, a number of shoppers welcomed the prohibition as a much-needed respite from noise and air pollution.
A customer at a candle store, also a father of three young kids, said: “As adults, we don’t like bursting crackers. It’s like setting your money on fire. It is difficult to breathe during Diwali and the following days, even if you are not an asthma patient.”
‘No traditional connect’
Asked if the ban on firecrackers would hurt the sentiments of revellers, he said: “People in our neighbourhood who have respiratory diseases are unable to carry on with their normal lives. There were no crackers at the time of Lord Rama and therefore, bursting crackers should not be encouraged in the name of traditional values and sentiments.”
The ban, meanwhile, has dashed the hopes of traders to celebrate a prosperous Diwali. The firecracker business, which is at its peak during Diwali, is facing challenges, said traders.
“The firecrackers market is losing its customers because of the ban on its sale by the Supreme Court. It is a good move for the citizens of Delhi but it is also the duty of the Supreme Court to take care of the livelihoods of men who are engaged in this business,” said a firecracker shopkeeper.
Alternative measures
With people finding out other ways to buy and sell firecrackers within hours of the SC ban, not many were impressed with the way the order was being enforced.
Harshit Sharma, a Delhi University student whose father is an asthma patient, said: “The entire ban on firecrackers is useless. A law is valid only if it is implemented and also enforced. Firecrackers are being sold despite the ban.”
Suggesting alternative measures to this address this problem, he said: “The ban should be on crackers that exceed the prescribed noise limit. The health of people suffering due to noise pollution can only be regulated with such innovative measures.”
There were other suggestions too.
Saima Bano, a mother to an eight-month-old child, said, “Bursting of firecrackers should be regulated by allotting some safe places to revellers. They should not be allowed to burst crackers on streets or in residential areas, where newborns, young children and people suffering from various medical problems stay.”
Respiratory problems
As a mother of a young child, she added: “Children are very sensitive to loud sounds. They are unable to sleep. Also, such high levels of air pollution is dangerous for small babies, they can develop respiratory problems. Numerous cases have been seen where young children succumb to fatal accidents because of bursting crackers. Banning of crackers is very important.”