Firecrackers business to begin today

VISAKHAPATNAM: The sale of firecrackers will begin in the three north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam on Friday. The authorities concerned have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to 700 stalls in the region including 389 in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits to sell firecrackers.
GVMC fire station officer N Gopi Krishna told TOI that they issued permissions to sell firecrackers at 23 locations."The sale will continue from Friday to Sunday. We conducted joint inspections of stalls on Thursday," Gopi Krishna said.
On the other hand, vendors said business would depend on the weather conditions.
A Nageswara Rao, an authorised businessman at the exhibition grounds at Sriharipuram in Gajuwaka, said, "We can't stop unfavourable weather conditions. Our business will completely depend on the weather," Rao said.
IMD director (forecast) K Nagaratnam said many coastal areas in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam are likely to get light to moderate rainfall from October 28 to 30 along with a squally winds below 20 kmph during the period.
According to sources, each firecracker trader typically sells 100-150 kg of firecrackers worth Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh daily.
Nearly 2 lakh kg of firecrackers have been shipped in from manufacturing units at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.
Many of the traders have brought special assorted firecracker packets ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 20,000.