SIVAKASI WEATHER
Chinese crackers? Not this Diwali

01-11-2015
1st November 2015

- The Telegraph

Chinese crackers? Not this Diwali

Fancy Chinese fireworks that have been lighting up your Diwali for the past few years will be out of reach following a directive issued by the Centre.

The Union government has asked all states to take action against any illegal shipment of crackers from China.

Any imported consignment of crackers will be treated as illegal. Police will keep a close watch on sale of such crackers in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar markets.

Deputy commissioner of police, Cuttack, Sanjeev Arora said they would make sure that traders abide by the rules of not selling Chinese crackers before issuing temporary licences for setting up stalls.

"Special drives will be launched to ensure that no Chinese crackers are sold," he said. The state government has also asked all collectors to keep a vigil on sale of illegal fireworks in their respective districts. The police issue temporary licences for setting up stalls to sell fireworks in the run up to the Diwali.

Usually, 300 licences are issued every year in Cuttack and 450 in Bhubaneswar.

Though the possession and sale of foreign-made explosives is a punishable offence under the guidelines of Explosive Act, Chinese fireworks have been easily available in the markets here.

Fire safety officer B.B. Das said: "We will issue guidelines to the cops and other agencies to strictly follow the pollution control norms. Whether it is Indian-made fire-crackers or Chinese items, norms are applicable to all so that accidents can be averted."

Pollution control board official B.N. Bhol said: "No crackers with sound capacity of more than 125 decibels will be allowed to be sold in the market."

While the local manufacturers are happy with the ban on the sale of Chinese crackers, consumers are unhappy.

"Usually, fancy crackers are preferred by children and Chinese crackers are also cheaper than those made in India," said Kishore Patnaik, a resident of College Square.

Sushil Sahu, 58, who has been in the cracker business for the past 25 years, also admitted to the proliferation of fancy Chinese crackers. However, he has avoided either storing or selling fancy crackers owing to the hazards involved in them. "Such fancy crackers contain potassium chlorate, which is dangerous, and they also have hazardous chemical that can explode easily," said Sahu.

Traders in Berhampur have welcomed the decision. "The move will benefit local manufacturers," said Rajendra Kumar Jena, who is in the business for the past few decades.

He said earlier the traders used to get the Chinese crackers from Delhi and Mumbai.

Inku Gouda, president of Sri Sri Balunkeswar Fireworks Traders Association, said: "Traders mainly depend on supply from Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, and Nalabanta and Ankuspur in Ganjam. The restriction on Chinese crackers would mean local crackers would flood the market." The fireworks trade in the state is worth around Rs 50 crore with Bhubaneswar and Cuttack accounting for Rs 20 crore.


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