CUTTACK: The restriction imposed by Commissionerate Police on sale of crackers near residential areas and at roadsides has put fireworks manufacturers in a spot of bother.
The hopes of manufacturers of Padmapur and adjacent villages of Trilochanpur, Mahajanpur, Purbakachha, Madhyakachha, Paschimakachha, Paga, Laxminarayanpur, Bahugram, Hatikhana, Champati, Bahadalpatna and Jangapatna in Salepur block, known as Sivakasi of Odisha, to make a killing during Diwali have been dashed with the police ban.
Around 2,500 people of more than 500 families in these areas have been engaged in manufacturing fireworks for the last one month with a hope to rake in the Diwali moolah.
While most of the families in these villages manufacture and sell their own fireworks, only five to six persons have been given license for cracker sale.
Earlier, villagers used to sell a portion of their fireworks from their own houses and the rest by hawking along the 10-km stretch of Cuttack-Chandbali State Highway from Bahugram to Pirabazar.
But with the restriction on sale of fireworks at roadsides and near residential areas this year, the villagers have found themselves in a difficult situation.
‘’Me and my family members have manufactured different varieties of fireworks by toiling day and night for more than last two months with a hope to earn some profit. Now, we have no other option but to sell our produce to wholesalers and local shopkeepers at a throwaway price, said Sulochana Swain (48) of Trilochanpur.
Echoing similar sentiments, 40-year-old Idrish Ali of Padmapur said,"Last year, all four members of our family had managed to sell our fireworks by hawking at the roadside near our house. The police restriction this year has put us in a difficult situation. I am searching for suitable retailers and wholesalers to sell my stock of fireworks.”
Sources said taking advantage of the restriction, traders and wholesalers from nearby areas are making a beeline for the villages to buy fireworks at a cheap price from the manufacturers.
This year, more than 55 firecracker stalls have been opened at different places identified by Commissionerate Police near Padmapur and Kazibazar so far.