MUMBAI: You may witness fewer harmful Chinese firecrackers in the market due to a drive conducted by the Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). In the last five months, the DRI has confiscated consignments of crackers worth Rs 14 crore in Mumbai.
The Chinese crackers contain potassium chloride which is hazardous to children. The Union government had not given licences for import of such firecrackers. However, some traders smuggle in China-made firecrackers surreptitiously and these are much in demand because they are cheaper than Indian varieties.
The Customs (preventive) has formed 16 teams comprising 100 officers, who are keeping tabs on dealers across the city. “We did not find Chinese crackers at spots our teams visited in the city. It may be because of our drive against importers,” said a Customs official. Such firecrackers are shipped to Mumbai and other ports across the country. Smugglers also bring it illegally through the Nepal border. The Centre had issued special instructions to act against smuggling of contraband.
The consignments were imported from Ningbo and Shanghai ports in China. The Chinese crackers are noisier and create more pollution, say experts.
