Legal firecracker sales end in Delhi, illegal vendors active till midnight
New Delhi: The limited sale window for firecrackers allowed by the Supreme Court in Delhi ended on Friday. Licensed shopkeepers stopped sales in compliance with the prescribed rules, but illegal vendors were seen selling firecrackers in several markets till late at night. This has raised questions over compliance with the court’s orders and administrative monitoring in the capital.
On the final day of sales, there was a heavy rush of buyers in the Paiwalan area near Jama Masjid. People arrived to buy firecrackers before the deadline ended. However, the sale of firecrackers without licences also continued outside and around authorised shops. According to reports, more than 50 street vendors were openly selling firecrackers in Paiwalan alone. Similar activities were also seen in Sadar Bazar, Bhagirath Palace, Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh.
The biggest concern over the illegal sales is about the quality and authenticity of the firecrackers. Since the firecrackers being sold at these locations were not checked, it could not be established whether they were actually certified green firecrackers or banned conventional firecrackers. Licensed shopkeepers expressed resentment that, despite their compliance with the rules, effective action was not being taken against illegal vendors.
Significantly, the Supreme Court had allowed the sale of only certified green firecrackers at designated locations in Delhi-NCR from November 4 to 6. For their use on November 7 and 8, the time has been fixed from 6 am to 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm. A complete ban on firecrackers is to come into force again from November 9.
The court has directed strict action for violations of the rules and the seizure of illegal firecrackers. In this situation, reports of illegal trade continuing even after the sales deadline ended have become a challenge for the administration.
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