Firecracker sales down by 30%, top cop warns against flouting SC order

PUNE: City police commissioner K Venkatesham on Tuesday said that his team would take action against those ignoring the Supreme Court order, which allows bursting of firecrackers only between 8pm and 10pm during Diwali, in case they receive complaints of such violations.



“If we get any complaints about violation of the SC order, we will register cases against such violators under the environment protection law,” Venkatesham told TOI. “We have to honour the SC directions to celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali. We have seen the ill-effects of pollution in cities like Delhi and Chennai. It’s high time we take care and follow the SC order on the usage of green crackers,” he added.

The police commissioner’s office has issued a detailed notice in this regard besides, use of green and improved crackers, ban on sale and bursting of joined or series firecrackers, and other related aspects.

A senior police officer added, “People can report violations to the city police control room. We will send beat marshals to the spot and action will be taken.”

Dampener on sales

The SC verdict coupled with the recent unseasonal rain has led to a nearly 30% drop in sale of firecrackers this year vis-à-vis 2017. Dealers, who were expecting sales to pick up over the weekend, have said that the sales remained low with fewer people stepping out to make purchases.

Firecracker vendor Jyoti Agarwal-Pabale of Birla Agarwal Company said, “We had expected that during Diwali vacations, people would buy crackers but that has not happened. In addition, it rained making people apprehensive about firecrackers. We have seen almost 30% drop in sales as compared to last year,” she explained.

Likewise, president Shobhechi Daru Utpadak Kharidi Vikri Sahakari Sangh Santosh Bora added, “There is a lot of confusion regarding the time restriction. Children generally burst crackers on Narak Chaturdashi early in the morning but we did not hear a single cracker on Tuesday morning. People have refrained from bursting crackers fearing action,” he said. Bora, however, added that vendors have some sale time left and are hopeful of a recovery.