No crackle in cracker markets as more opt for 'green' Diwali

HYDERABAD: Markets like NTR Gardens, Sanathnagar and Jaya Gardens in Somajiguda have drastically reduced their stock this year fearing drop in sales ahead of Diwali this year. With all the campaigns to control noise and air pollution, instructions from the city police to implement a time bracket to burst crackers and plummeting of orders from many households who now want to celebrate 'green' Diwali, the trend of buying crackers in bulk appears to be fading out this season.

Many in the business of selling firecrackers say that the orders that they used to receive at least a week before the festival have reduced considerably compared to last year. "Every year, our sales start at least a week before the festival but this time we hardly have any customers visiting our stall to buy crackers. We had anticipated the drop in sales this year and set up only one stall instead of three but it looks like we will not be able to sell most of the stock that we purchased," said Surender Kumar of Laxmi Firecrackers in Sanathnagar.

"Campaigning for pollution once a year is not going to solve the problem. We need to plant more trees and look for long term solutions," said Rajkumar, a firecracker retailer near NTR Gardens.

Many citizens also say that they prefer to celebrate pollution-free Diwali for a safer tomorrow. "This year, I am thinking of celebrating Diwali only by lighting some sparkles. I don't want my children to suffer with lifelong respiratory issues just because we want to celebrate a festival by bursting firecrackers and polluting the air," said M Rathika, a resident of Begumpet.

"Wish I could buy a lot of crackers for my children like we used to do in our childhood, but increasing pollution levels in the city is scary. I think we should not let the situation go out of hand," said M Venkatramana, another citizen who prioritised the environment over festivities.