Chinese products still at a high, firecrackers take a hit in Mumbai

Sanket Khamkar at Lalbaug has put up a board (right) saying he will not sell China-made crackers. Pics/Datta Kumbhar

Loyalties seem to be a bit divided this year in Mumbai, with respect to the local festival markets that spring up around Diwali. Although traders and wholesalers have refused to stock/sell China-made firecrackers, other Chinese products, such as lamps, lanterns and Diwali decorations, still seem to be in high demand among retailers and buyers.

Mumbai-based retailers and wholesalers have been spotted putting up boards in front of their shops, stating that they sell only India-made firecrackers, admitting that they may earn almost 50% lesser revenue than past years.

However, seasonal Diwali markets that spring up in Dadar, Goregaon, and Marine Lines during the festive season, continue to stock and sell Chinese decorations and gift items. "A small section of our customer base has avoided buying Chinese lamps and decorations this year, yet, the market for Chinese decorative items still continues to be larger as compared to the Indian items," said Rajesh Karwe, who runs a seasonal business of decorative items in Crawford Market. "60-70% of our Diwali business is based on the sale of Chinese products," he said, adding that if one shopkeeper did not sell these items, then another would, thereby causing a fluctuation in the market prices."
Cheaper goods does not mean more demand. However, this theory of cheaper products having more demand does not stand true in the case of Chinese firecrackers, which has been facing stiff opposition from wholesalers and retailers alike. A fireworks seller in Lalbaugh has taken it a step further to spread the message among the masses.

Sanket Khamkar (32), owner of the company GW Khamkar Fireworks, whose family has been setting up shop during Diwali season next to Lalbaugh's Chiwda Galli since 1971, has put a sign at their firecracker stall that states that all products sold there were made in India, and that they did not sell any China-made products. The sign urged buyers not to indulge in the practice of buying crackers manufactured in China. "

Politicising pollution
But this wasn't his sole reason to boycott crackers imported from China. "China helps our enemy nation Pakistan and supports them in their causes - that is the main reason why I took the decision this year that we won't sell Chinese products," he said, adding that Indian firecrackers were also safer to burn than the undependable Chinese counterparts. "We used to sell those firecracker pistols that were made in China, but have now have gone out of our way to buy the ones manufactured in India."

"We are also going to put up a similar board," said Subhash Ogle (63), owner of Nita fireworks, who has been setting up shop in Lal Baugh since 1969 (it used to be run by his father then). Ogle also pointed out that Standard Fireworks did have a short-lived collaboration with a Chinese firecracker company a few years back, but that too died out.

Lower margins, lesser profit
This decision to not stock or sell Chinese firecrackers seems to be taking a hit on local retailers and wholesalers, who state that irrespective of a drop in profit, they would continue to support their decision. "Compared to last year, our profit margin is fifty percent lower now since the court has ordered for not supplying stock to local hawkers," said Yatin Shingre, owner of Sai Prasad fireworks, whose family has been setting up shop in Goregaon since the past 60 years.

Authorities speak
Maharashtra Pollution control board carried out the test to find out the pollution readings of 26 types of firecrackers last week - but none of them were of a Chinese make. "This year, the maximum decibel for single cracker(s) was 99.99 (maximum allowed is 125), whereas for ladis it was 116," said an official.