Ahead of Diwali, illegal cracker sales continue in Delhi
Even after the Supreme Court said only NEERI-certified green crackers with QR codes could be sold in Delhi from October 18-20, many vendors are ignoring the order.
Instead, they're taking orders on WhatsApp or calls and quietly delivering unlicensed crackers by cycle or e-rickshaw.
The crackdown hasn't stopped them—mainly because the licensing process is so complex and last-minute that most vendors didn't even bother applying.
The licensing process is too complicated for the vendors
Vendors in busy markets like Jama Masjid and Sadar Bazaar say the paperwork—police affidavits, fire clearance, site plans—is just too much.
A Sadar Bazaar vendor said the licensing process was so complicated that they didn't even apply for it.
With high demand and barely any legal supply, some sellers have already run out of stock before the official sale window.
Police have set up patrols and inspection teams, but vendors keep finding ways around the rules, using social media and direct messages to keep the business going.