Hyderabad: Despite a govt ban on Chinese firecrackers, several small vendors and some licensed sellers are discreetly selling them across Hyderabad in the run-up to Diwali.
The illegal crackers reportedly attract customers due to their affordability, low fares, selling for at least 20% less than crackers made in Tamil Nadu. The high demand persists despite a price hike of about 10% this year, with popular items like Chinese bijli bombs and pop-pops flying off the shelves, vendors said. Vendors operating in markets like Begum Bazaar, Madina and Sultan Bazaar are setting up small stalls, sources said.
“People want affordable crackers, and Chinese crackers are much cheaper than Indian ones,” said a vendor from Begum Bazaar. Some licensed sellers of Indian crackers are also discreetly tapping into the demand.
“We have to cater to all kinds of customers. Some are looking for low-cost options, and we can’t ignore that,” a vendor from Sultan Bazaar told TOI. “When Indian crackers are getting more expensive every year, it’s natural for customers to look for cheaper options. The demand for green crackers has also gone up ,” he said. “We know the Chinese crackers are banned, but with the way prices have gone up, we get more for our money with these crackers,” said a customer in Begum Bazaar.
Hyderabad police have warned vendors of strict action if they are caught selling banned products. “The sale or use of fireworks is punishable by a fine of 1 lakh or a jail term that can extend up to one month,” said an official.
The illegal crackers reportedly attract customers due to their affordability, low fares, selling for at least 20% less than crackers made in Tamil Nadu. The high demand persists despite a price hike of about 10% this year, with popular items like Chinese bijli bombs and pop-pops flying off the shelves, vendors said. Vendors operating in markets like Begum Bazaar, Madina and Sultan Bazaar are setting up small stalls, sources said.
“People want affordable crackers, and Chinese crackers are much cheaper than Indian ones,” said a vendor from Begum Bazaar. Some licensed sellers of Indian crackers are also discreetly tapping into the demand.
“We have to cater to all kinds of customers. Some are looking for low-cost options, and we can’t ignore that,” a vendor from Sultan Bazaar told TOI. “When Indian crackers are getting more expensive every year, it’s natural for customers to look for cheaper options. The demand for green crackers has also gone up ,” he said. “We know the Chinese crackers are banned, but with the way prices have gone up, we get more for our money with these crackers,” said a customer in Begum Bazaar.
Hyderabad police have warned vendors of strict action if they are caught selling banned products. “The sale or use of fireworks is punishable by a fine of 1 lakh or a jail term that can extend up to one month,” said an official.
