KANPUR: The blanket ban imposed on sale of crackers in Kanpur district has disappointed cracker traders who were hoping to recover their losses in Diwali.
The state government passed an order on Tuesday imposing ban on sale and bursting of crackers in 13 districts of the state till November 30 in view of poor air quality index (AQI) there. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a blanket ban on crackers.
Disappointed wholesale traders convened a meeting to make a representation to the district administration and met DIG/SSP Preetinder Singh. They apprised him about losses they would suffer following the ban.
The DIG made it clear to them that the ban had been imposed in view of the deteriorating air quality and the district administration would comply with the directives of NGT and the government. “There will be a total ban on sale of crackers. Action will be taken against those caught selling crackers. However, there will be no exploitation of traders”, he added.
The wholesale traders, on the other hand, said that the ban order has given them double blow after Covid pandemic. “We were hoping that the festival would give us some relief but that too has been denied”, said a trader.
Kanpur is a hub of crackers supplied from the neighbouring districts. Mohd Shahabuddin Shamsi, president of Crackers Association, said, “The blanket ban has destroyed several trader. Now, they cannot sell crackers while cracker companies will not return the money”.
A trader said, “We had completed everything from license to storage of crackers. Now the ban has pushed us in deep trouble. Just two days before the festival when the sale of crackers should be in full bloom, we are weeping as our investment has been blocked”.
The ban has also disappointed children and cracker lovers..