For firecracker sellers,it’s a dark festival of lights

Earlier only a few shopkeepers would sell crackers from permanent shops after permission from the district administration but for the past few years,small vendors used to sell fireworks at each and every corner of the district,that also without any requisite permission.

While the number of retailers has gone down by almost 50 per cent this time,the times are also tough for the wholesalers as well. “Besides decrease in the commission given by the manufacturing companies,the less sales have severely affected our business,” reasons a Kurali wholesale firework dealer Ajay Kumar,while adding that for the first time,they have offered discounts on their cash sales.

Though the district administration had specified the sites for selling permitted crackers,but no one had put up stalls there,courtesy the authorities concerned,who are turning a blind eye towards the blatant violation of rules prescribed under the Explosives Act for the best reasons known to them.

A wholesale cracker merchant maintained that they are selling crackers in an illegal manner but even than they can’t lose out on business because “one man’s loss is another man’s gain”.

However,he is not afraid of any “trouble” as such business dealings are being done only with regular customers.Moreover,except a fire service in Mohali,the district has no other arrangements to control fire.

DCspeaks

“I will ask SDMs to take action against all those selling crackers illegally at unspecified places and without mandatory permission. SDMs will have to ensure sale of permitted crackers at specified places only,” says Parveen Kumar,Deputy Commissioner,Mohali.