As cracker use allowed, Delhi traders eye state

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 27

With the state government allowing a two-hour window to burst crackers on Diwali and Gurpurb, wholesalers in Delhi are dumping their stock in Punjab. Stock worth lakhs, ordered this year or left over from previous years, have become worthless for traders who deal in firecrackers in the Capital as there is a ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and adjoining areas till January 2022.

The cracker rates have already plummeted by more than 25 per cent despite the air quality in Punjab dipping every year during the festive season when paddy stubble burning is at its peak. “What else can we do? We have green crackers that we placed orders for last year, before they imposed the ban. We have two-year stock and discounts will help us clear it before it turns into scrap,” said a wholesale dealer from Delhi, who supplies primarily to Ludhiana and Amritsar.

On Tuesday, Punjab ordered that only green crackers — considered less polluting — would be sold in cities and towns barring Mandi Gobindgarh and Jalandhar.

Super stockists in Delhi are offering discounts on crackers exceeding 20 per cent, and with down payments in cash, it touches 38 per cent over and above the discount.

Wholesalers in Punjab are being offered heavy discounts, in addition to delivery of the crackers within the state for bulk orders. Subsequently, the rates of branded crackers have reduced by 20 per cent.

“In case of down payment, the discount touches over 38 per cent above the existing discount,” said a wholesaler from Delhi, adding that the discounts on banned polluting items were even bigger.

“We have to clear our stocks, whatever it takes,” said cracker supplier Jagdish Chadha of Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar. “Our stocks are stored in Haryana and if Punjab dealers want any items, ample stocks are available,” he said.

The state government has authorised the police to ensure that only “green crackers” allowed by the court are sold. “The police can take action against anyone flouting norms or bursting crackers outside the permissible time limit,” said Karunesh Garg, member-secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board.