Fireworks traders’ fate still hangs in balance

With just ten days to go for the festival of lights, fire work merchants of the city are yet to come to terms with the fact that they were not shown any alternative to Swarajya Maidan (PWD Grounds) to set up their stalls. The association of firework merchants met Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday and requested for suitable place allotment for pitching their shops.

It is known that the merchants were denied permits to occupy Swarajya Maidan due to the movement of Chief Minister whose camp office is just located behind. Every year, they come up with shops also at Gymkhana grounds and Basavapunniah stadium in Singh Nagar, though the business happens at large from the center point of the city. The district officials have asked the merchants to relocate to outskirts for which the merchants are not ready.

It is learnt that Chief Minister has asked the fireworks association to look into the aspects of organising stalls at IGMC stadium. The traders are citing parking problems and inadequacy of space inside the stadium. Meanwhile, the traders who already purchased a lot of stock in the month of March for this year’s Diwali, are not okay with the shift in base which would either be close to Bhavanipuram or Ajith Singh Nagar as traffic problems might affect their business. The local shops, super markets and stores will gain from the advantage to the wholesaler’s loss.

Speaking to The Hans India, representative of the Fireworks Traders Association K Kodandaramiah said, ‘’We are hopeful for the allocation of adaptable place. We are not ready to give it into the outskirts since the business may register a fall out. According to us, the only alternative to the Swarjya Maidan is on the banks of river Krishna near Seethammavari Padalu, where there is ample space and also parking facilities. We are not sure of how many stalls we can accommodate at the Stadium. There are only a few days left and we are awaiting a better alternative’’.