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Deepavali: Rs 6 crore worth fireworks sold in DK

Mangaluru: This year as per the Court’s orders, the government had implemented various restrictions on the use of fireworks during Deepavali, yet its effects on the fireworks businesses in Dakshina Kannada (DK) was negligible. According to sources from the market, the city did a business of Rs 3.5 crore, while the four taluks did a business of Rs 2.5 crore and thereby, altogether, there was a business of Rs 6 crore.

Price, slightly lowered

This year, the GST on fireworks was lowered by 10%, consequently lowering the product prices slightly. In the first three days, there was no much business. But the next three days saw brisk business. In terms of sales, 40% of the business was achieved on the first three days while the following three days witnessed 60% of the business, informed Ananth Kamath, fireworks wholesaler.

Normally, as soon as the Deepavali festival is done, the retailers return back their remaining fireworks stocks. But this time, the remaining stocks of fireworks have not yet returned. Hence, it is assumed that the entire stocks must have been sold, he said.

Fall in noise pollution

This year, there was a fall in noise pollution through crackers. There were no crackers which made loud sounds. Hence, it is being said that the use of crackers has reduced. The permits of all the 11 permanent fireworks sellers functioning within the Mangaluru Commissionerate limits have not been renewed, informed the commissioner during the phone-in programme in Friday.

91 applications for temporary permits

This year during Deepavali, there were 91 applications for temporary permits for the sale of fireworks, of which only 82 retailers had submitted NOC from the related departments, based on which the permits were issued.

The commissioner informed that the temporary permits were provided for the sale of fireworks on Deepavali from Nov 5-8th and for the upcoming ‘Tulsi Pooja’ on Nov 20th. Of the 11 permanent fireworks sellers within the limits of the Mangaluru Police commissionerate, only 8 sellers had put up their applications for the renewal of their permits while the remaining three failed to do so.

There is a rule that there should be open space around the shop which is selling the fireworks. But, presently there is no open space around all the 8 sellers who applied for the permit renewal as well as the shops are actually located in an area which is a market space and has many shops in its close proximity. Therefore the permits were not renewed. A firework seller from Moodbidri took exception of this and knocked on the doors of the High Court, which in turn gave its judgment supporting the police commissionerate’s action. Meanwhile, a show cause notice has been sent to the three fireworks sellers who failed to apply for their permit renewal, explained the commissioner.

Only 5 permanent fireworks shops

There are only five fireworks shops in the city. They are functioning after receiving their permits as per the ‘Petroleum and Explosives Organisation Act (PESO)’, informed T R Suresh, city Police Commissioner.