Hyderabad: Diwali, the festival of lights, is setting up the mood for celebrations in Hyderabad. On the other hand, with only two days left for the Big Night the fire cracker business in the city is refusing to shine.
Sanjay K, Telanagana Fire Cracker Association member, is a worried man. He said, “Last time the losses were not as big. But this year, the sales have straight away gone down by 50 percent. We are selling the previous year’s leftover crackers at subsidized rates.”
When asked what the new crackers have been introduced in the market this year, Sanjay said, “The crackers we had last year, we are selling the same again this year. We cannot take the risk of introducing something new.”
Mallesh Goud, a firecracker seller from Malkajgiri said, “We are keeping up shops open for long hours to ensure the clearance of stocks we already have. We are also trying to sell as many crackers as we can to make up for the losses.”
When asked what crackers are popular with the public Mallesh said, “Pencil crackers, flower pots, Rockets and Laxmi bomb appear to be peoples’ favourites. For the remaining ones we have no option but to sell them off at subsidised rates.”
Murali Krishna, a software employee who is a resident of LB Nagar, sharing his thoughts on the trending sales of firecrackers in the city said, “I personally think that the various initiatives from the government like making city pollution-free and Supreme Court orders against bursting crackers after 8 pm in the night, could be reasons behind the dip in sales.”
Nishika Reddy, a class nine student and a resident of Koti speaking on the laws banning the use of crackers after 8 pm in the city said, “It’s in the evening the Diwali festive spirit is seen and celebrated. Banning the use of firecrackers after 8 pm in the evening is certainly upsetting. At the same time, we also advocate for the pollution-free environment this Diwali. Instead of banning the use of firecrackers after 8 pm steps should be taken to encourage less noise making firecrackers and also those that produce fewer emissions.”
City police to book cases for violation
The Hyderabad city police chief Anjani Kumar said that like last year, the city police would book cases this year too against those who are found using crackers after 8 pm.
“Law is law. We will implement it as it has been pronounced by the Supreme Court,” said Police Commissioner. The city police had booked 72 cases against people who were found using firecrackers after 8 pm in the night.