HYDERABAD: With just about a fortnight to go for Sankranti, it appears that demonetisation has taken its toll on kite business in Hyderabad. In the previous years kite aficionados from all across the city thronged to the streets of Old City and its famous bustling patang markets.
Unlike the previous years, the skyline of the city is yet to be dotted with kites of different colours, shapes, sizes etc. The usual kites with photographs of famous Tollywood and Bollywood stars are also missing this year.A general enquiry on the ground reveals the sale has been badly affected, courtesy: demonetisation and the cash crunch.
Wholesale dealers in kites, Mahboob Aziz patang house in Kali Kaman categorically claimed that his sale has dropped by 75 percent this year, solely due to demonetisation.
“People do not have money in hard cash for bulk purchase,” he reasoned. For instance, he said people who used to place an order for Rs 10,000 worth kites are only buying Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 worth kites this year. So considering the extraordinary situation this year, have they shifted to digital means of transaction already? Especially at a time when city businessmen, left with no option, are turning to cashless modes of transaction, kite dealers express their practical inabilities.
Bajaj Patang Mahal, a wholesale dealer in Gulzar House, said that banks are not providing them with swiping machines on time despite paying them innumerable visits.
He also pointed out at the non-availability of shorter denominations in the market rendering the `2000 note useless. “`900 rupay ke patang khareed kar log Rs 2000 ka note dete hai. Ab hum change kaha se laye?” he said.
Explaining the situation, Prince kites, another small dealer, expressing their disappointment over the fall in sales, said, “Har saal ye time tak aasman me patang dikhte the, ek bhi nahi dikhri ab.”
Echoing similar views, Motilal patang ghar, a wholesale dealers in Begum Bazar, pointed out that no retailer has come back to them with a bulk order after demonetisation.
Sankranti and the kite festival is celebrated in the city with much gusto. The festive flavour here is something the traders are still pinning hopes on. The kite sellers hope to cover up for the fall in sales 2-3 days before Sankranti.