The ban on firecrackers continues in the National Capital Region of Delhi during Diwali this year. Firecrackers will also no longer be sold in the market this year due to air pollution concerns. However, despite a ban on firecrackers last year, people continued to burst crackers during Diwali, affecting the air quality. A ban on firecrackers was also implemented this year, but to understand how effective the ban was and how it affected the market, the Aaj Tak team went on a field trip to Delhi’s largest market.
We visited Saddar Chowk in Delhi. This market in Old Delhi is one of the largest markets in Delhi and thousands of people can be seen here even early in the morning. Thousands of people flock to the markets to buy decorations ahead of Diwali.
Firecrackers sold to children
When we checked a shop in Sadar Bazaar, pomegranates and traditional firecrackers with big fireworks or bangs were not found there. However, what goes by the name of firecrackers are small firecrackers fired from a gun and sold to children. The shop owner told me that most of the firecrackers he sold were spicy and for children. Even in the middle of the market, there are many places where you can see cookies selling, and there are also many places where you can see small fireworks, but the shopkeepers don’t know if there is a ban. A shop owner had cold fire capsules. He said they were used at weddings and were used in electric guns.
Hide the cookies after seeing the camera
Some shopkeepers were selling small firecrackers, saying they were for children. Someone was seen secretly selling fireworks in the market. Some shopkeepers were seen hiding firecrackers after seeing the cameras. One shop owner said he only had four boxes left. The shop owner said that setting off these firecrackers is prohibited, but since they are produced by the company, we will sell them. People admitted to selling firecrackers privately, but most of the banned firecrackers disappeared from the open market.
However, last year too, despite a ban on firecrackers, a large number of firecrackers were set off on Diwali, which had a noticeable impact on the air quality the next day. Although firecrackers are not sold in the market, how effective the ban will be will be known only on Diwali night.
