Kurnool: Cracker vendors in Kurnool are a worried lot due to very low sales even after setting up shop for two days.
Some reasons being attributed to this lack of pyrotechnic enthusiasm are appeals made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to keep this Diwali low key to express solidarity for the victims of Hudhud cyclone and Kashmir floods.
“This year cracker sales is very dull may be because of the sympathy that arose in people for the cyclonic havoc wreaked in Vizag and appeal made by N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Many people are taking up voluntary work,” said C. Kishan, president of Kurnool cracker license owners and YSRC SC cell district convener.
“Last year, in two days we could sell 50 per cent of our Diwali wares. But this year, the sales did not even cross 25 per cent in two days. We are hoping for customers to turn up by evening when the schools get closed,” said G. Ramesh Reddy, vice-president of Kurnool crackers license owners and SBI life insurance adviser.
All the 90 cracker shops are set up in STBC college grounds with good arrangements made by police and fire station departments. “We got excellent cooperation from government departments. The authorities arranged cease fire mechanism, fire engine on standby, drums full of water and sand to meet any eventuality,” added C. Kishan.
In the wake of fire accidents in East Godavari district and Delhi, authorities have taken extra precautions. In Kurnool town, STBC college ground is the only designated place to sell crackers.
Even in this slack period, Standard Cracker Company from Sivakasi is the bestselling brand. Sparklers, flower pots and ground chakras are the bestsellers from its stable.
Swapna, a teacher based in Bengaluru came with her daughter to buy crackers. She said, “I spent '800, the prices are very high, there is no scope for reducing the price. I bought ten sparklers each costing Rs 80.” Flowerpots are being sold at Rs 150 and they are giving only a discount of one rupee."
