Calls from green activists ignored, cheap crackers flood market

Seven wholesale markets have been set up in Gurgaon, customers can also buy firecrackers online

Residents, environmentalists and green activists have been advocating for a peaceful and pollution-free Diwali this year. However, many continue to be on the lookout for various markets where they can buy traditional firecrackers — anaar, chakri and rockets — at reasonable prices.

A customer shops for firecrackers at a wholesale shop in village Gadoli on Tuesday. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

With Diwali just around the corner, seven wholesale markets for firecrackers have been set up in the city. All of these wholesale godowns are located on the outskirts of the city in village Gadoli on Pataudi Road.

These wholesale shops have been selling firecrackers for as long as 15 years now. According to shop owners, people from Delhi and nearby areas buy crackers from here.

However, people in the city don’t know much about wholesale markets and end up paying more for firecrackers when they buy from retailers.

This year, some of the wholesalers are also selling firecrackers online. HT found that one such website lets people order over phone and their package is delivered at the given address. Firecrackers that are delivered are bought from licensed godowns in Garauli village.

Though there is not much addition to the variety of crackers, the wholesalers said this time they have no Chinese products.

“We sell crackers at fixed prices that are much lower than the MRP (maximum retail price). The retailers give only 10-20% discount on MRP,” said an official at the Stars Night Fireworks.

For instance, the MRP of a 10-piece box of anar is Rs. 275. At the wholesale market, it is available for Rs. 150. However, retailers would not give more than 20% discount, making the final price Rs. 220.

There are nearly 400 retail shops across Gurgaon, including Pataudi and Sonha. According to retailers, each shop sells over Rs. 3 lakh worth of crackers every year.