Delhi-Government to Clarify its Position with the Nationwide Ban on the Sale & Usage of Crackers during Diwali
By: Ashwathy Nair
- The decision to ban the use and sale of crackers made traders suffer a huge loss.
- The focus is to avoid increasing pollution level and rapid rise in the Coronavirus.
- The traders of crackers are suffering heavy loss.
Delhi government have been urged by the cracker traders to clarify its position over the nationwide ban on sale and use of crackers during Diwali.
The decision was made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a meeting that there will be a ban on the sale and use of crackers. Due to this ban, the cracker traders are likely to suffer a huge loss, which would be impacting their livelihood.
An appeal has been made by Kejriwal to the Delhi people that they should not burn any crackers during Diwali as there are increasing pollution levels and a rapid rise in the COVID-19 cases.
A cracker trader, Deepak from Trilokpuri stated, “This time I had bought green crackers of worth ₹3 lakh and is having a permanent licence. Now, we are only allowed to sell them after 30th November. According to the Explosive Rules, 2008, a final decision should be taken by the government on either letting it remain unchanged or abolishing it. Just a few days before Diwali, every year, a decision is being made against bursting crackers due which, we are the main people who suffer from huge financial loses”.
Rajeev Jain, the member of Delhi Fireworks Traders Association (DFTA) stated, “For the last five years, the trial over banning firecrackers is on. While to curb pollution, green crackers were promoted but there is no clear definition of green crackers. Last year, the Supreme Court allowed the sale and use of crackers like ‘anar’ and ‘phuljhadi’ that helped in mitigating some loss”.
He also stated, “Just before Diwali, the government’s decision regarding the ban of crackers, has worsened the problems for the whole fireworks industry. In 2019, the state government should have informed us itself that there won’t be any permission granted. If we knew that earlier, neither would crackers have been manufactured nor it would have been purchased by the traders”.
He added “The level of pollution has raised even with no crackers been burnt till now. So this clearly shows that behind the increasing pollution level, there are other major reasons. Every year, rather than imposing a ban on crackers, more clarity on Explosive Rules, 2008, should be given by the government.”
A compensation for cracker traders is being demanded by the leader of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Vijay Goel. A protest has also been held against Kejriwal government in Jama Masjid’s cracker market.
