Berhampur, Oct. 24: Skyrocketing prices of firecrackers has brought down pre-Diwali sales here this year.

The sale generally reaches its peak four to five days before Diwali.

However, this year the figures are far from satisfactory. Traders lament that buyers are visiting the kiosks only in trickles.

“Diwali is just two days away but most people here have not yet brought firecrackers. The prices of crackers have gone up by more than 30 per cent compared to last year. Perhaps the people think that the rate of crackers would fall on the penultimate day of Diwali,” said Rajendra Kumar Jena, a trader.

“This season we have introduced musical twinkle stars worth Rs 260 for 40 pieces, colour gems — a small kumpi which produces feeble sound — worth Rs 70 per packet and some other items that are popular among kids,” said Jena said.

“We have opened 42 kiosks in the market,” said Inku Gouda, president of Sri Sri Balunkeswar Fireworks Traders Association, adding, “Last year there was a transaction of Rs 1crore and even this season we expect something similar”.

The firecracker market is located on Andhapasara Road at Nilakantha Nagar situated in the suburbs of Berhampur. Retailers from many districts including, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh and Rayagada buy crackers from this market. Earlier, there used to be 80 shops in market out of which eight rooms were destroyed during the fire accident on August 29 last year. These rooms have not yet been built.

M. Jaga Rao, assistant fire officer, Berhampur, is not satisfied with the precautionary measures against possible fire mishap on Andhapasara Road cracker market.

“Traders may keep 10kg dry chemical fire extinguishers in their shops. But it is useless if they do not know of its use. All the traders and the persons concerned who are in charge of handling the extinguisher must be trained in its usage from experts,” said Rao.

“Indian Explosive Act strictly states that there should be a minimum gap of three-foot between each room where the crackers are stored. But it has been grossly violated here,” Rao said.

“The other point is that in Ganjam most of the cracker license holders are permanent in nature and there is no temporary license holder. Permanent license holders generally keep crackers in their room throughout the year and there are chances of eventualities. Three officers including sub-collector Berhampur, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Berhampur and myself had conducted joint inspection in the market and have submitted our report separately to the collector Ganjam,” he said.