Markets in Delhi were packed with people on Saturday as the sale of green firecrackers began, just a few days before Diwali. However, many buyers ignored the rules about using only eco-friendly crackers and bursting them at fixed times.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court relaxed its complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. The court allowed the sale of only green crackers — those that cause less pollution — from October 18 to 20. People are allowed to burst these crackers only on October 19 and 20, between 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm.
Despite these rules, many people started bursting crackers early, and markets were flooded with both green and banned conventional crackers. Loud noises of celebrations could already be heard across several parts of the city.
Huge rush in markets
Markets such as Sadar Bazaar, Jama Masjid, and Shakti Nagar saw long lines of customers as shops opened early in the morning. Vendors said they began selling around 6 am, and many of them ran out of stock within 12 hours.
Ajit Fireworks, a shop in Jama Masjid, said that it had sold almost everything by afternoon. “We started selling at 6 in the morning and have exhausted almost all the stock,” the shop owner said.
When Hindustan Times reporters visited the market, they found several people waiting in front of shops, being told to come back the next morning for fresh stock.
Because of the high demand and limited supply, prices of crackers went up. Some buyers, tired of waiting or unable to afford the higher prices, went to street vendors, who were openly selling regular banned crackers despite restrictions.
High prices and confusion
Majestic Fireworks, one of the oldest shops in Jama Masjid, had its shelves full again after the Supreme Court order. The owner said, “We didn’t get time to eat today. Customers have been coming from all over Delhi since morning.”
Customers, however, complained about the high prices.
“Last year, I bought these crackers for ₹150. This year, they’re ₹300,” said a 22-year-old customer.
Another buyer added, “I planned to spend ₹1,000 for my children, but one box itself costs ₹500-600 now.”
In some areas like Chandni Chowk, banners claiming “King of Green Crackers” attracted large crowds. But many customers said they were not sure whether the crackers were really eco-friendly.
“They say these are green crackers, but it looks like a mix of both green and regular ones,” said one shopper.
Police find it hard to enforce rules
Police officers said it’s difficult to check whether people are actually using green crackers or banned ones once the packaging is thrown away.
“After people throw the packet, there’s no way to know whether it was green or not. Also, many burst crackers on their terraces or in backyards, where it’s hard for us to reach,” said one officer.
He added that in previous years, police could only take action on specific complaints because monitoring every household was impossible.
