.JPG "Fireworks sellers see uninteresting enterprise on Day one in Vijayawada")
People buy firecrackers from a store on the eve of Deepavali in Vijayawada on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO
Fireworks sellers, who’ve been allowed to arrange stalls for 3 days for Deepavali in Vijayawada, had a lean day on Saturday.
Three locations — Maakineni Basavapunnaiah Stadium, Labour Colony Grounds in One Town and Vajra Grounds close to A Convention Hall — had been chosen to arrange the fireworks stalls.
Pavan, whose household is within the enterprise for the previous 20 years, says not a lot could possibly be offered after getting permission on Friday night time.
“Last year too it was a loss for us. Owing to the fire accident at a stall on the Gymkhana Grounds, which killed two people, the rest of us, not more than 12, were asked to set up the units on the outskirts of the city. But, it was too far for us. We had to keep all our crackers in the godown of the manufacturers,” says Pavan, who has arrange a stall on Vajra Grounds.
Another vendor from the identical place, who didn’t want to be named, says restrictions have been elevated within the wake of the fireplace accident final 12 months. “We hope the sales pick up after the evening,” he says, including that the variety of patrons progressively fell through the years. One invests wherever between ₹5 lakh and ₹50 lakh on these crackers, he says. The variety of stalls too is falling as years move.
“Earlier, up to 120 stalls used to be set up across the city when PWD grounds were available. This year, 60 stalls have been permitted as there are not many grounds in the city. Many want a place in the city, but owing to restrictions such as keeping at least three metres of space between two stalls, accommodating all of them is not possible,” says Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Fire Officer Raja, including that every vendor additionally has to bear the prices of two extinguishers, two drums stuffed with water and 4-5 sand baggage.
Source: www.thehindu.com
