Rise in prices by 35-40% may make crackers unaffordable for ordinary people
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Firecrackers wont just set the skies ablaze this Diwali. The 35-40% rise in cracker prices seems to burn a hole in the pockets of many who want to celebrate the festival of lights. Families which spent Rs1,000 on crackers last Diwali will now have to spend around Rs1,500 for the same. Fireworks manufacturers and dealers cite rising raw material costs and a shortage of labour as the reasons behind the hike. The industry is also facing problems in purchasing raw materials and transporting finished products. Increase in the prices of raw materials and chemicals such as potassium nitrate, sulphur and aluminium, which are used in fireworks manufacture, has directly affected prices. Phosphorous prices have
risen to Rs440 a kg from Rs180 a kg. Similarly, aluminium has shot up to Rs225 a kg from Rs140 a kg last year. Naim Kapadwala, a fireworks manufacturer, told DNA: “The fireworks market across India has hit a rough patch due to the recession. Prices of raw materials imported from China and other parts of country have seen a tremendous rise. In addition, increased transportation and labour charges, and the burden of tax have also had an effect on the market. Prices of some crackers, like the roll, have doubled. All we can do is hope for good sales. Jayesh Shah, a crackers dealer, said: “The price rise has made the market very dull and dry this year. Customers are keeping themselves away from heavy purchases of crackers. Diwali is just a few days away and we have not seen as much sales as is usual.” Even customers who come to buy firecrackers are turned off by the high prices. Piyush Patel, who enjoys lighting fireworks, said, “Though my budget was around Rs1,000-Rs1,500 for crackers, I ended up spending Rs2,500 since I couldnt get even 50% of what I wanted on my budget. I bore this extra expenditure for the sake of my kids, but this has disturbed my Diwali budget, and I will need to cut on some other expenses.” Anuja Shah, a customer said, “Prices of fireworks increase each year but, this time, it is too high and has made a big hole in our pockets. It has become difficult to put aside hundreds of rupees for crackers, since all prices go beyond the thousands. Prices of commodities and other things are already disturbing our Diwali budget, and now the added prices of crackers have made Diwali a costly affair.”
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Firecrackers wont just set the skies ablaze this Diwali. The 35-40% rise in cracker prices seems to burn a hole in the pockets of many who want to celebrate the festival of lights. Families which spent Rs1,000 on crackers last Diwali will now have to spend around Rs1,500 for the same. Fireworks manufacturers and dealers cite rising raw material costs and a shortage of labour as the reasons behind the hike. The industry is also facing problems in purchasing raw materials and transporting finished products. Increase in the prices of raw materials and chemicals such as potassium nitrate, sulphur and aluminium, which are used in fireworks manufacture, has directly affected prices. Phosphorous prices have
risen to Rs440 a kg from Rs180 a kg. Similarly, aluminium has shot up to Rs225 a kg from Rs140 a kg last year. Naim Kapadwala, a fireworks manufacturer, told DNA: “The fireworks market across India has hit a rough patch due to the recession. Prices of raw materials imported from China and other parts of country have seen a tremendous rise. In addition, increased transportation and labour charges, and the burden of tax have also had an effect on the market. Prices of some crackers, like the roll, have doubled. All we can do is hope for good sales. Jayesh Shah, a crackers dealer, said: “The price rise has made the market very dull and dry this year. Customers are keeping themselves away from heavy purchases of crackers. Diwali is just a few days away and we have not seen as much sales as is usual.” Even customers who come to buy firecrackers are turned off by the high prices. Piyush Patel, who enjoys lighting fireworks, said, “Though my budget was around Rs1,000-Rs1,500 for crackers, I ended up spending Rs2,500 since I couldnt get even 50% of what I wanted on my budget. I bore this extra expenditure for the sake of my kids, but this has disturbed my Diwali budget, and I will need to cut on some other expenses.” Anuja Shah, a customer said, “Prices of fireworks increase each year but, this time, it is too high and has made a big hole in our pockets. It has become difficult to put aside hundreds of rupees for crackers, since all prices go beyond the thousands. Prices of commodities and other things are already disturbing our Diwali budget, and now the added prices of crackers have made Diwali a costly affair.”
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment