Dealers not happy over ban imposed on bursting of crackers

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 9

After the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a ban on the bursting of crackers during marriage and other celebrations, including on New Year’s Eve, in the state, firecracker dealers have expressed unhappiness.

Accusing the state government of causing grave losses to their business, they said first the High Court restricted the sale of crackers in the state and now, it had banned the use of crackers during celebrations as well.

The HC order will remain in force till January 11, 2018, which is also the next date of hearing in the case. Concerned over pollution, the High Court, in its earlier order before Diwali, allowed the residents of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to burst crackers only for three hours— from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm — on Diwali.

A similar three-hour relaxation for bursting crackers was also given on Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary in November.

Goldy Gupta, a licenced wholesale dealer of crackers, said the decision was causing severe losses to the industry. “After the HC orders, the sale of crackers reduced near Diwali. The decision will also affect lakhs of labours working at manufacturing units in Andhara Pradesh. The majority of the crackers’ stock is used in North India,” he said

Gupta added that the firecracker dealers were holding talks with manufacturers to find a solution to the problem. He said there was a possibility that it might be a politically-driven decision.

Vivek Bansal, a seasonal firecrackers’ dealer, said despite the HC directive, fireworks were being burst at weddings. “The court has pronounced its order but the implementation of the same is also required. There are still buyers but we are wary of selling crackers now. Although, I sell crackers during the festive season, the profit margin plummeted this year after the number of stalls was drastically cut down,” he added.

Bansal said during Diwali as well, the dealers had to adjust their stock at the stalls to get rid of them. “This year, sales went down as compared to past years. Next year onwards, we will have to think before taking it up,” Bansal added.