Mohali cracker dealers not happy with court order

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 13

Cracker dealers today expressed disappointment over the Punjab and Haryana High Court order to fix timing for bursting of crackers from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm this Diwali.

Traders termed the decision, taken to curb pollution level, as unnecessary and ‘ad hoc’. The order will be in effect till October 26, a week after Diwali ends.

The cracker sellers said pollution was caused by other factors such as burning of fossil fuels, burning of paddy straw, industrial discharge, mining and vehicles.

“Vehicular traffic causes pollution on an exponential level. The authorities should put a ban on the movement of vehicles as well,” said Seemant Sood, a third-generation cracker seller in Kurali.

He said: “The order will cause inconvenience to local residents and children. What is Diwali without bursting crackers?”

Balwinder Sood, another trader, said: “The order will directly impact the sales and cause losses. This is a virtual ban on firecrackers. The authorities should consult small traders and unions before taking such an extreme step. High GST rate of 28 per cent is already eating into the profit margins.”

Another seller said the order would impact several thousands of employees working in the industry.

Amarjeet Singh, a local resident, raised concern over the implementation of the order.

“It will be tough to execute such an order. Will the police issue challans to children bursting crackers a day or two before Diwali?” he asked.

A resident of Phase 2 said regulating the timing for bursting crackers was a good move considering high particulate matter in the air. “Smog after Diwali can cause respiratory ailments,” he said.

The Mohali administration has earmarked 17 sites for sale of crackers in the district and has issued 13 licences so far.

A cracker seller in Kurali said the HC order to regulate timings for bursting crackers and issuing 20 per cent less licences this year would result in a loss of about 60 per cent to cracker sellers.