CitysLudhiana

In terms of size, green crackers are small, but in terms of price, they are big

Through reducing the size of crackers and replacing their contents with non-harmful chemicals, the green Diwali might help reduce noise and air pollution this year. However, the negative side of this green idea is that it’s likely to cost more for the partygoers.

The Punjab Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, on Wednesday, declared that green crackers are the only ones that would be permitted during Diwali day, and the same applies between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Draw of lotto tickets for giving temporary permits to set the stalls for green crackers is also happening in several districts in Punjab.

Talks with cracker dealers revealed that crackers’ size is diminished and the harmful chemicals that are in crackers are substituted with chemicals of low potency so that they satisfy the requirements of green crackers.

For instance, the size of new flower pot crackers (‘anar’), a significant cause of pollution, has been reduced to four inches, as opposed to the 6 to 7 inches in the past.

Colored sparkler (phuljhari) produces the most pollution, and is being removed of the market. Currently, only silver or golden sparklers are in stock.

It is now possible to see the size and shape of Comets that provide a stunning view of the sky also has changed the size of comets.

“The comet’s size has been reduced to three inches. It will now explode with a smaller distance from the sky. This means that the pollution levels will be at minimal. Furthermore, the classic bombs are 8 ply, compared to 11-12 ply layers that were in use prior to. This reduces noise pollution. Crackers that used to burst for a short period of time, making a loud sound are now gone completely from the market,” said Tribhuvan Thaper, a former cracker dealer in Ludhiana.

For the party-goers, This Green Diwali will come with the price of a bill in the literal sense.

Chakris, a pack of 10 that were sold for just Rs 10, is now on sale for Rs 120. Flower crackers in pots are priced at around 70 rupees for a box (pack with 10) as opposed to Rs 45 last year.

The cost of sparklers has increased to about $30 for a 10-piece pack, compared to just Rs 12 for the same pack in the past.

The highest volume of sales of firecrackers is likely to occur the weekend following since Diwali is this Sunday (October 24) in this year. In Fazilka, lots for licenses for 67 firecrackers stalls in Abohar, Jalalabad, Balluana and Fazilka were drawn on Thursday, whereas in Ludhiana, the lottery is scheduled to be drawn next Friday. A total of 37 licenses will be given out in the Ludhiana city region by itself.

This year, despite the usual 70-75 applications received for cracker stalls, more than 250 applications have been accepted in Ludhiana.

Sources have revealed that many fresh applicants who had no prior previous experience in the field of crackers have filed for temporary licenses, and these dossiers are being scrutinized by Kaustubh Sharma, the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana.

According to sources, some customers are still requesting the same crackers. “Those who have some of last year’s stocks could be able to accommodate, but crackers like this aren’t being sold. But, only on Diwali, it will be evident whether the green cracker policy has been followed and if it has not been,” said a cracker dealer in Ludhiana under the condition that he remain anonymous.

Kaustubh Sharma stated, “We will go according to the law in the allocation of licenses and those who have had prior experience will have a higher chance of getting it.”

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