Firecrackers business hit badly amid COVID-19 pandemic in Gurugram

Gurugram, Nov 3 : The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and confusion over operation of firecracker shops has decreased sales of firecrackers by 25 per cent in Gurugram this year.
Due to the pandemic and air pollution the markets in Gurugram are still deserted.
However, on the other hand the firecrackers merchants in Gurugram are selling environmentally friendly fireworks or ‘green’ crackers as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The firecrackers are available for sale only at designated shops-cum-godowns in Gadoli and Kadipur area in Gurugram, no retail shops (with temporary licence) are allowed to sell firecrackers. The Gurugram district has only 6-7 godowns of fireworks.
Ashok Saini, owner of Star Nights Fireworks, one of the fireworks merchants said, “Due to ongoing coronavirus and air pollution firecracker businesses are going down. The other reason is confusion among the people. I receive a number of calls from people to check whether shops are open or not”.
“The profit margin was 30-35 per cent but this year now it is 10-15 per cent only. This Diwali green crackers are the only hope of a revival in the firecrackers business,” he said.