Cyclone threat, govt rule keep green crackers demand low

People purchase firecrackers at a market on the eve of Diwali festival on Sunday. Representation pic/ANI

After a ‘subdued' business for the past two years due to COVID-19, fireworks traders in West Bengal are keeping their fingers crossed for the Diwali festival this time even though demand for green firecrackers is yet to pick up.

They have not witnessed any sales traction due to several factors, including the government's decision to allow only green fireworks and threatening of a cyclone during the Kali puja this year, said a functionary of a bazi bazar' organising committee here.

Compared to a daily footfall of 2,000-2,500 in the Tallah Park Bazi Bazar in the pre-COVID Diwali seasons, the same has been around 1,000-1,500 from its opening on October 20, he said.

Around 44 stalls have been put up here, and each stall, on an average, is registering R1 lakh sales every day, down from a daily turnover of R2 lakh in 2018-19, Tallah Park Green Bazi Bazar Treasurer Sarojit Awon told PTI.

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"We are only selling green firecrackers certified by central agencies that have expertise to decide which fireworks follow the prescribed norms. But due to network issues, it takes time for the QR code to be scanned and the certifying letter by the appropriate authority to be downloaded. This makes customers jittery..." he said. "We are hopeful that the sale will pick up on Sunday and the day of Diwali on October 24. However, the heavy rain forecast has dampened the spirit," Awon said.

Sara Bangla Atasbazi Unnayan Samity Chairman Babla Roy said, "...some NGOs are trying to throttle the industry in Bengal which had once set the trend of burning colourful fireworks having different patterns in air. We urge the government to come forward to aid our indigenous industry and help it modernise." Environmentalist S M Ghosh, however, said the basic health issues of people cannot be overlooked in the name of livelihood.

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