Growing awareness on detrimental impact of firecrackers on environment and the call to cast-off Chinese brands seem to have affected the sale of crackers in Hyderabad, with the overall sales falling by up to 50 per cent compared to last two years.
According to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Fire Crackers Association president Sanjay Bhope, the wholesalers in entire Hyderabad and Secunderabad are not selling Chinese crackers.
He said crackers were being sourced from Sivakasi, the traditional fire cracker manufacturing hub in Tamil Nadu.
Bhope, owner of Shanti Fireworks, said Chinese crackers contain potassium and chloride which are not only harmful but are also dangerous to transport.
"Apart from the call given on social media to boycott Chinese products across the country this year, there is an increase in awareness among the newer generation (on environment) which is staying away from bursting crackers.
"In fact, customers in particular inquire if shopkeepers are selling Chinese crackers. All this has impacted sales of firecrackers this year and when compared to past two years there is a dip of around 50 per cent in sales of crackers in Hyderabad," Bhope said.
Some firecracker shops in the city have also put up banners/posters, saying Chinese fire-crackers are not sold at their outlets, he said, adding some persons, however, continue to sell Chinese crackers in view of huge profit margin.
V Vishwajeet, founder of online seller www.Hitechcrackers.Com, said the customers have opposed buying Chinese crackers and majority of them first inquire if we are selling the Chinese ones.
"We do not encourage selling Chinese crackers though the margin is more. We source locally made crackers from the wholesalers," he said.
Vishwajeet said in view of pollution caused by bursting of crackers, they have taken up planting of saplings on the behalf of customers on every order placed with them.
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