Firework traders mull switch over to other businesses

In a stern action to curb air pollution during the ongoing wedding season, the Supreme Court on Friday suspended the licences of all firecracker sellers in Delhi and National Capital Region with immediate effect till further orders, virtually banning their sale and purchase.

However, firecracker sellers of Delhi are very anguished and frustrated over the Supreme Court ruling.

The owner of a fireworks company asserted that their business has already taken a hit after the ban on sale of Chinese crackers this Diwali. On top of that, demonetisation further reduced revenues. “We decided in last October, to switch over to some other business,” said Jitender, the owner of the fireworks company. The Confederation of All India Traders, president, Praveen Khandelwal expressed his views that Delhi is the hub of firecracker business and the wholesalers supply across India. Khandelwal further said that this is a seasonal business and a small scale trade, where around 4,500 labourers get temporary jobs in Delhi. He also asserted that after the complete ban of firecrackers, it will create a disguised unemployment in the city.

In the last month, during Diwali, ban over Chinese crackers declined business by around 30 per cent compared to last year. 

Khandelwal also said that firecracker manufactures and sellers have to develop some other viable business here in order to survive. The suspension of licences with immediate effects means sale, purchase and stocking of firecrackers are completely banned in Delhi and NCR.

Patakhe Wale’s owner, another seller of firecrackers on the Patodi Road, said: “We are suffering owing to Chinese crackers ban and demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Presently, we do not have any business.”

Another shop owner, on condition of anonymity said: “Business this Diwali has been nothing compared to last year. It’s the wedding season now and yet we cannot make much money as sale is quite low because of demonetisation. So I have started to switch over to some other business already.”

Delhi traders and market associations are quite unhappy over the Supreme Court ruling as many have started mulling switching over to other businesses.