Hubballi: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa's announcement appealing to people to burst "only
green crackers" and keep the celebration of the
festival of
lights simple and meaningful had left firecracker
vendors a worried lot. With dealers investing crores to buy
crackers, the sudden announcement by the CM had left them confused and in the lurch.
However, dealers in the twin districts of Hubballi-Dharwad claim since 2017 they have been selling only green crackers
Green crackers have small shelf size compared to traditional crackers. Thye release water vapour and don't allow the dust particles to rise. They are designed to have 30% less particulate matter pollution.
Vimal Talikoti, secretary, Hubballi-Dharwad Fireworks Dealers Association, said when the initial ban was announced dealers went into a tizzy, but when the government did a flip flop, the dealers heaved a sigh of relief.
Since 2017 Hubballi-Dharwad and other places in the district have been selling only green crackers. "We have decided not to sell high density bombs and others including LARS of 10,000, 5,000. Cracker dealers from Dharwad, Navalgund and other areas too gathered in Hubballi on Saturday and decided to sell only green crackers," he added.
A firecracker dealer from Navalgund was furious at the government’s decision. “Such decisions must be taken well in advance not with 10 days to go for the festival when dealers have already placed orders for crackers. The lockdown and the ban on crackers during Ganesha fest really hit us hard,” he added.
Talikoti said that they will sale only green crackers and completely ban sale of loud sounding crackers.