Firecrackers have become a precious commodity this Deepavali with prices of crackers that used to rise by five to ten per cent every year skyrocketing by around 30 per cent this year.

Furthermore, supply has also been hit by 40 per cent due to strict enforcement of safety regulations after the recent fire tragedy in Sivakasi. Cracker manufacturers blame Cyclone Nilam for the decline in output.
“Prices have shot up by 30 per cent this season as compared to last year,” points out S.Ramesh, a retailer from Perambur. For example, a 2,000-string cracker that was sold for Rs 850 last year now costs Rs 1,100, while the cost of 10,000 walas has surged from Rs 4, 200 to Rs 5,000. And, commonly used 'chakkar', sparkler, flowerpots, twinkle-stars have also witnessed a steep increase ranging from 10 to 25 per cent.

Curiously, the supply of firecrackers has dwindled this year when there has been a rise in demand. “Fire­cracker supply has come down by over 40 per cent from that of last year,” says S.Mohammed from Parrys, a fireworks stockist. “Due to demand, many popular varieties may not be available after a few days,” said Sheik Abdullah of Parry’s crackers association. However, wholesale traders claim prices have increased only by 10 to 20 per cent this year.

Mr Vijayakumar, president, TN fireworks and Amorces manufacturers association, told DC that stringent enforcement had led to closure of several factories leading to lower production. “Over 50 factories have been closed in Sivakasi due to the raids conducted by authorities. The turnover for this fiscal would come down to Rs1,900 crore from Rs 2,200 crore,” he said, adding that they were struggling to meet the demand of the local market as they usually produce for TN market only a few days ahead of Deepavali with initial production mostly going upcountry.

No cracker sale at Flower Bazaar: HC

The Madras high court on Tuesday dismissed applications from fire cracker traders who sought permission to sell crackers in the Flo­wer Bazaar area.

A division bench of Chief Justice M. Y. Eqbal and Justice T. S. Sivagnanam dismissed the applications from Syed Sultan of Bunder street and 10 others, which sought clarifications on the order passed in the contempt petition from ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy in January 2011 relating to grant of licence for sale of crackers in open spaces.

Pointing out the coun­ter affidavit of the joint commissioner of police, in which it was stated that police cannot grant temporary permission to sell crackers in Flo­wer Bazaar, the bench said, “It is seen that the Association of Fire Crackers Deal­ers/T­r­aders has already con­structed huge sheds on Island Grounds to car­ry out sales and the police have also planned detailed security arra­nge­ments to ensure safety and security of the public. From the counter, it is seen that traders have paid advance on August 23, 2012, for shifting sales to Island Grounds and thereafter they have filed the present applications after a lapse of two months and it is unfair on their part to play a double game.”

The counsel for ‘Traffic’ Ramasamy submitted that the secretary of the association, Anees Raja, has given a statement in newspapers that they were moving the cracker sales to Island Grounds and the work was almost done and that the stalls would be ready for business by November 1.

“In the light of the above facts, we are of the clear view that there is absolutely no merit in these applications filed by the petitioners. In view of the several orders passed by this court in various writ petitions and writ appeals, nothing remains to be clarified in the order passed in the contempt petition. From the uncontroverted facts, it is evident that the petitioners and the other traders have taken all steps to conduct their sale of crackers on Island Grounds and elaborate arrangements have been made by the association,” the bench added.