Sri Vijaya Puram: With Diwali approaching, social workers Mr. Chandan Singh and Mr. Sandeep Singh have raised serious questions over what they described as the astronomically high prices of firecrackers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, alleging possible malpractice and calling for an immediate administrative inquiry into the pricing and sale of fireworks.
The two social workers said firecrackers available for around Rs. 200 in mainland cities such as Chennai were reportedly being sold for Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,500, and sometimes as much as Rs. 3,000, in the islands. They questioned how products with relatively low prices elsewhere could become so expensive locally, even when sellers advertised discounts of 30 to 40 per cent.
Mr. Chandan Singh said the exorbitant prices were placing a considerable financial burden on middle-class and economically weaker families, effectively making the festival increasingly unaffordable for ordinary residents.
“Diwali should not become a festival only for the rich and influential. Poor and middle-class families also have the right to celebrate it with happiness,” Mr. Chandan Singh said, urging the administration to take immediate notice of the issue.
He said they have written to the Lieutenant Governor seeking intervention and regulation of firecracker prices. They expressed hope that the administration would examine the matter and ensure that island residents were not forced to pay disproportionately high prices during the festive season.
Mr. Chandan Singh also questioned the process of allocating temporary firecracker sale stalls, saying that if the allegations regarding excessive pricing were to be properly investigated, the administration should examine whether the existing arrangements were adequate. He suggested that the allotment process should be handled transparently by the concerned government department rather than being left to a commercial organisation.
Mr. Sandeep Singh, while elaborating on the issue, alleged that the prices charged in the islands appeared arbitrary and called for a thorough inquiry into the cost structure, transportation expenses, licensing arrangements and retail pricing of fireworks.
Citing a personal example, Mr. Sandeep Singh said his family had purchased a packet of anar fireworks at approximately Rs. 1,800 from a stall at the ITF Ground, while he claimed that a comparable product could be purchased in Chennai for around Rs. 200 after discount. He said the substantial difference warranted a detailed examination by the authorities.
“Why should we pay Rs. 2,000 for something that costs Rs. 200 elsewhere? Even after accounting for transportation and other expenses, the administration needs to examine how such a huge difference is being justified,” Mr. Sandeep Singh said.
He stressed that the objective was not to oppose legitimate business or deny traders a reasonable profit, but to ensure that consumers were charged fair and justified prices. He also questioned the practice of citing maximum retail prices (MRP) and discounts to justify the final selling price, arguing that consumers needed greater transparency about the actual pricing of fireworks.
Mr. Sandeep Singh further urged the administration to constitute a dedicated team comprising senior officials to examine firecracker prices across mainland markets and compare them with the rates prevailing in the islands. He proposed that the team consult traders and suppliers in other states, assess transportation and other legitimate costs, and recommend a revised pricing structure wherever warranted.
The social workers also raised concerns over the affordability of Diwali celebrations for children from low-income households, saying that many families were struggling to purchase even small quantities of fireworks because of the prices being quoted.
Calling for urgent action before the festival, Mr. Sandeep Singh appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and senior administrative officials to intervene while there was still time to review the arrangements for the sale of firecrackers.
He also urged residents to question excessive prices and demanded accountability from those responsible for overseeing the market. He said a transparent review and appropriate action, if irregularities were established, would strengthen public confidence in the administration.
Both social workers expressed hope that the authorities would conduct a fair inquiry, examine the allegations and take appropriate steps to make firecrackers more affordable for island residents.
They maintained that their principal demand was straightforward: a transparent investigation into the alleged overpricing of firecrackers, a review of the prevailing rates and effective measures to protect consumers from unjustified charges during Diwali.
