No licence, yet Chinese crackers flood city shops
Despite the director general of foreign trade (DGFT) not issuing even a single licence for the import of foreign crackers, the city’s markets are reportedly flooded with Chinese crackers. This fact has come to light in the wake of a communication by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) director general Jayant Mishra to chief secretary K.K. Sharma in which he has urged him to direct his officers to immediately report the presence of imported firecrackers in licenced premises to the customs department.
The import of firecrackers is restricted in terms of the Foreign Trade Policy and is allowed only against an import licence issued by the DGFT. And all premises, that sell firecrackers, have to be duly authorised or licenced under Rule 84 of the Explosives Rules 2008, by the district magistrate, who may issue temporary licences for possession and sale of fireworks.
Mr Mishra told the chief secretary that the DGFT has not issued any licence in this regard to any importer so far. “Besides harming the domestic industry, fireworks of foreign origin are hazardous in nature and jeopardise public safety and health,” he said.
Mr Mishra’s letter said: “It is observed that some elements circumvent this policy and indulge in illegal import of firecrackers by concealment and misdeclaration. It is a serious concern that these illegal imports are reportedly continuing despite best efforts by the law enforcement agencies. As the Diwali season is nearing, there is a possibility of more such illegal imports that are in turn displayed and sold in the local markets without necessary permission.”
The letter said: “You (CS) may like to direct the officers concerned and confirm that licences are given only for the sale of Indian firecrackers. In case any imported firecrackers are noticed in licenced premises, the jurisdictional customs authorities may be informed and in case such sale takes place in unlicenced premises, then necessary action may please be taken by the police authorities.”
A senior officer said that there is a possibility that Chinese firecrackers had most probably entered the Indian markets through Nepal. “With the fear of authorities acting against those indulging in the sale of foreign firecrackers, some traders may repackage them and pass them on to customers like Indian made products.”
Earlier, an alert issued by the DRI said that in order to circumvent the licencing requirements, unscrupulous importers were indulging in the illegal import of firecrackers by way of misdeclaration and concealment. “It has been noticed that even after the issuance of several alerts, imports of foreign origin firecrackers is still rampant as is evident from the recent seizures made by this Directorate.”