Firecracker sellers of Delhi see Diwali going up in smoke

With their losses projected to run into crores, wholesale dealers of firecrackers in New Delhi can see their Diwali going up in smoke.

The Supreme Court on Monday dealt a virtual death blow to firecracker dealers in the famed walled city of Delhi by banning sale of fireworks until October 31, reports PTI.

The news travelled fast through Sadar and Jama Masjid, the two famous markets in the Old City, with shops piled high with crackers of all kinds, ranging from sparklers selling for about Rs 20 a stick to powerful bombs going up to Rs 1,000 and more.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31 – Diwali falls on October 19 – in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

“All dealers across NCR have been affected. The ban was imposed in 2016 last year and was lifted temporarily around 20 days back. Now, what will be do with the old stock? Crackers worth crores will go waste,” said Amit Jain, who sells firecrackers in Jama Masjid.

Harjit Singh Chhabra, head, Sadar Nishkarm Welfare Association, estimated that losses could go up to hundreds of crores.

According to him, 500 temporary licences have already been issued to sell firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Of these, Sadar Bazar has 24. This does not include those who have a permanent licence.

“Ban nuclear weapons, not crackers,” said one shopkeeper in Sadar Bazar. “The Supreme Court’s job is to regulate not ban,” added another who had set up shop close by. “They have banned Diwali in Delhi,” said a third.

The posters came up equally rapidly.