If you’re planning huge fireworks for Diwali, reconsider. It has the ability to burn a hole in your pocket. Due to the deficiency of firecracker production due to the Covid-19 lockdown, firecracker costs have risen by around 25% to 30%, according to firecracker sellers.
As if that wasn’t enough, late monsoon rains increased firecracker manufacturers’ troubles. “There was not enough labour available at the time, which resulted in a decrease in firecracker manufacturing,” a firecracker dealer stated.
Rahim Shaikh, who runs a firecracker shop near Delhi Darwaza, explained that because of the fear of the third wave of Covid-19, dealers have not stocked enough to meet increased demand, resulting in the price hike.
Notably, due to the strict execution of child labour rules in Tamil Nadu, which is known for its firecracker sector, the makers were unable to obtain cheap labour. This also resulted in a decrease in the production of firecrackers.
Shaikh further stated that the sale of firecrackers in the city is gradually increasing. “However, if there had been no drop in firecracker manufacturing, pricing would have remained consistent and sales would have been significantly greater than they are currently,” he said. Ruplal, who has been selling firecrackers at Delhi Darwaza for about 20 years, says there is less variation this year than there was before Covid-19. “However, we have ‘Drone,’ ‘Angry Birds,’ ‘Spider Man,’ ‘Silver World,’ and ‘Foam Tree’ firecracker variations,” he stated.
“If there had been no decrease in firecracker production, prices would have remained consistent and sales would have been significantly greater than they are now”, He further added.