For retailers at Delhi's Chandni Chowk there is nothing more far removed from reality than eco-friendly crackers though a few here and there are emitting gulaal instead of gunpowder. SANGEETA YADAV takes a round
The busty narrow streets of Bazar Paiwalan and Bazar Gulyan at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area are bustling with people buying crackers which reach here mostly from the wholesale market of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. From anaar, chaakhri, phuljhadi, bomb and shot to rockets, you name it and they have it.
But ask them about eco-friendly crackers’ and they are at a loss of words on what constitutes eco-friendly since what they are selling is not environment friendly in any respect.
“Every packet of cracker has a composition label on it which gives out information on what chemicals have been used and precautions to take. Chemicals like potassium nitrate, carbon, sulphur, barium nitrate, magnesium, aluminum and many others are used,” Rohit Singh at Friends Fireworks, says.
The fact that every cracker has gunpowder makes it harmful for the environment. “Crackers that require fire to go off can’t be environment friendly. Whenever you burst a cracker, harmful gases will be released causing pollution and noise due to blast,” Harsh Kumar, owner of Harsh Kumar Fireworks, says.
Retailers insist that in the last five years, the word ‘eco-friendly’ has been attached to crackers just to grab the attention and increase sales. “The only eco-friendly crackers that are available are party poppers — when you twist it and throw out colourful paper. Rest everything is harmful for the environment and comes with an advisory,” an employee at Ajit Fireworks tells you.
This time round, there are some interesting crackers available in the market. One such cracker blasts off gulaal when lit. Another one is a box of 12 shots which go up dancing in the air and take various shapes.
“Standard Fire Works (P) ltd has launched Rainbow Fog which is a box of two shots that has gulaal in it. When you burst it, it emits colourful gulaal. Another manufacturer, Sri Devi Fire Works Industries at Vijayarangapuram in Tamil Nadu, has launched Colour Goli which is a pack of five shots that has different colours of gulaal in it. All of this costs `100. Another out-of-the-box cracker is Dance Aur Dance by Sony Fireworks. It is a box of six-12 shots that go dancing in the air and form sun signs. This costs `200,” Singh says.
