In a bid to prevent the sale of Chinese firecrackers in the city, the Delhi Government’s Environment Department has asked Delhi Police to maintain strict vigil on loni and Tughlakabad borders. Delhi Police has launched a crackdown against the hoarders and seized a huge consignment of Chinese crackers from loni area. Officials are now maintaining a close watch on the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Tughlakabad as the same could be used by the traders for transporting Chinese crackers.
The ban on the sale of Chinese crackers was issued by the Centre. City administration officials are now going the whole hog against those who are storing these firecrackers. This will be the first Diwali in the past one decade when Delhiites will not use Chinese crackers and use only those produced by the Indian manufacturers. Precisely, the Indian manufacturers of firecrackers will definitely rejoice this Diwali in the Capital. It is noted that the Government is finding helpless as they are finding difficult to check entry of Chinese crackers in the Capital.
Now the Environment Department has started coordination with Delhi Police and officials of Explosives Department as well. A high-level meeting was convened on Monday evening where the Deputy Commissioners’ Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Deputy Commissioner of Police (licensing) and officials from Explosives Department were present. The DCP (licensing) was told not to issue licence to those who run a shop on the ground floor but the upper floors have dwelling units. Next, they have been directed to ensure that if one license is issues, then several shops cannot be run on the same licence. Hence, each cracker shopowner will have display the license at their shops. But the vigilance by the police has been attached top priority. They have been asked to ensure that the cracker shops are shut at 10 pm. The officials are drawing the conclusion that if the crackers are not sold after 10 pm, it will also reduce the consumption of cracker in each colony thereby reducing the pollution level. “Those processing licences are being to strictly follow the Explosives Rules, 2008 rules to avert untoward incidents. If one wants to sell mixed crackers even up to 100 kilos or higher quantity are required to have a fireworks licence,” said a Delhi Government official.
The retailers say that it will not impact the market much as the Chinese fireworks are not sold in the organised retail of the crackers and are basically sold by petty sellers in the run-up to the festive season.
Ramesh Kumar, a Delhi-based retailer, said, “We do not keep Chinese crackers as the demand among the regular customers is less. The clientele prefers safe goods and would not let cost affect the decision at all.”
However, those who have already placed orders in China are now staring at huge losses as their consignments will be seized at ports. “Usually, traders go to China and place orders. On an average, each trader would suffer a loss of Rs 2 crore-Rs 3 crore. A pack of 12 rockets, not the fancy ones, usually cost a trader around Rs 30-Rs 35 whereas a Chinese pack would cost Rs 18,” said Kumar. Many traders said it would be hard to crack down on Chinese crackers. Sunil Kumar, a Chinese crackers seller, said, “The consignments that have reached and the stock in circulation have to be sold. No new orders will be placed as customs officials are very vigilant nowadays.”