Chinese crackers still available in hyderabad city

Hyderabad: In spite of the ban on the sale of Chinese crackers, small-time businessmen still sell them on the sly. With an increase of price to an extent of 20% this year, small shops are selling Chinese crackers.

Chinese Bijili bombs have hit the market; consumers are buying them as they are cheaper. Vishwajith, Hitech Cracker Manufacturing Company, says, "The Supreme Court judgement last year to redesign manufacturing with a new formulation is making it costly. Thus, Chinese variety which is cheaper is flooding the market."

Bijili bombs which make multiple sounds when lit are on high demand this year, Though the Supreme Court restricted to sale chain crackers above 500, fireworks manufacturers across the city are selling 1000 to 10,000 ladi in every retail and wholesale stores.

"Chinese crackers are a braid of fireworks that contain 28, 48, 32, 50 or 100 shells. They explode with a string of clap sounds several times and more beautiful to be seen when it lit than the normal crackers. They are also Rs 50 to Rs 100 less compared to the normal crackers. A flower pots (10 pieces) packet costs Rs 260 whereas Chinese flowerpots are available at only Rs 220 and, hence, the demand for Chinese crackers," said Ajay, Standard Crackers Dealer.

Raman Sethuraju, Treasurer, Telangana Firework Association, says, "Sales are low. One hopes it would pick up in the next two days. Inadequate supply and recent rainfall have hit the supplies."

Ayyansh, a wholesale shopkeeper in Begum Bazaar, said, "It turned difficult to get permission to manufacture crackers as restrictions are high on making i.e., in terms of chemical compositions; so we imported Chinese crakers worth Rs 50 lakh from Lucknow."