Citizens ‘not so excited’ to buy firecrackers, sale dips

24 Oct 2022 10:42:10
 
Citizens not so excited
 
 
Business Bureau :
 
In the wake of the recent decision of the Delhi Government to impose a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers in its State and the oath taken by the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister recently to protect the environment while celebrating the festival of lights, sale of firecrackers in the city seems to have been gradually losing its sheen. Moreover, the growing awareness among the citizens also appears to have been pulling down the sale of firecrackers year after year. As per the records of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the number of the firecracker sellers in the city in the current year is 765 which is marginally up when compared to previous season when there were 665 sellers took permission for setting up the shops. However, in last Diwali season there were few takers for firecrackers on account of COVID-19 and thus the comparison between last year’s figures and that of the current year will have no meaning. In 2015, there were 951 shops selling firecrackers within the municipal limits. The number further surged to 982 in 2016 but then it started falling gradually and in 2017 and 2018 only 865 and 777 shops were set up respectively.
 
Commenting on the matter, Chief Fire Officer in NMC Rajendra Uchake said, “The data shows that the sale of firecrackers is witnessing a gradual fall because of various restrictions on it.” One of the sellers, on a condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the people are showing less interest in the firecrackers. “Besides awareness and restrictions, increased cost of firecrackers is also spoiling our trade. There is a hike of about 30 per cent on a year-on-year basis,” he said. Meanwhile, a reasonable number of buyers were seen purchasing firecrackers in Gandhibagh market on Sunday. There was a similar rush in Wardhaman Nagar, Sugat Nagar and Sakkadhara area where firecrackers stalls were set up. Chetan Kumar Balani, one of the sellers, said that people are very cautiously buying firecrackers. “They want fancy items which create less pollution,” he said, adding that the pattern of firecrackers has changed a lot in the last three to four years. It is important to note that the many schools and colleges are encouraging the students to celebrate Diwali without polluting the environment. Moreover, authorities have also put various restrictions on bursting crackers.
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