GURUGRAM: A series of restrictions coupled with Covid-19 induced economic slowdown and confusion over operation of firecracker shops has brought down the sale of firecrackers to less than 25% of last year’s volume.
Firecrackers are available for sale only at designated shops-cum-godowns in Gadoli area of the city. The sellers claim that this year, unlike last year, all the firecrackers available in the market are green crackers as mandated by the Supreme Court as the manufacturers located in Shivkashi in Tami Nadu and parts of Rajasthan have supplied only green crackers.
The price of green crackers which are all manufactured in the country is marginally higher than the regular firecrackers, but no one is complaining, said a seller. “Last year, only around 20% of firecrackers were green crackers. This time all the firecrackers in the market are green,” said Alok Arora, another wholesaler of firecrackers.
But despite following protocols, the sellers say the confusion over the status of the ban on firecrackers combined with the fear of contracting coronavirus might have dissuaded many customers. Ashok Kumar Saini, owner of Star Nights Fireworks, one of the wholesalers, said, “More than customers, I receive inquiries about whether the shop is open”. He added that they started selling crackers after Dussehra but still many are not aware.
While pointing at the green mark on a packet of sparklers, Saini said all the firecrackers in his warehouse have been certified by the authority at the time of manufacturing, just like the rest of the stock available in the market.
Even as Diwali is just 10 days away, shopkeepers say that customers are refraining from making big purchases and the average ticket size has come down to 30%. “The people from high income groups who make bulk purchases of firecrackers are away from the market and those who are coming are purchasing in small quantities,” said Saini. He added that they are receiving lots of requests for home delivery but are unable to fulfill the orders because of lack of manpower and to avoid penalties.
Rajan Rajpal of Ganpati Fireworks said negative publicity about firecrackers has also badly affected their business. “People burst firecrackers only on Diwali night just for a few hours and its contribution to overall pollution is very little. Diwali is 10 days away and air pollution has already increased. It is due to stubble burning but people put blame on firecrackers,” said Rajpal.
Buyers, too, want the government to focus on the major factors contributing to the spike in air pollution around Diwali rather than just banning crackers. “Construction activities, industry, vehicles and stubble burning causes pollution, contribution of firecrackers, a part of festivity, is very small,” said Anuj Mishra, who has come from Delhi to purchase firecrackers.