Chinese goods flood Diwali market in State

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 8: On the eve of Diwali, the Guwahati market has made it crystal clear that India is no match for Chi in industry.

The Diwali market in Assam has been flooded with Chinese electrical goods, while the state's traditiol earthen lamps have taken a beating.

Chinese electrical goods for decoration are sold like hot cakes in the Guwahati market. While LED garlands are sold at Rs 150-200 apiece, gel lights are sold at Rs 5-60 apiece, genda garland at Rs 300-500, lotus at Rs 100-150 apiece, water spray at Rs 500-600 apiece, rope light at Rs 750-1,000, dipak at Rs 150-200, dia at Rs 100-500, tree at Rs 400-600, flower net at Rs 60-80, gel net at Rs 60-80, rocket LED at Rs 80-250, crystal at Rs 150-150, lesser at Rs 500-700 and LED strip at Rs 200-800.

A stockiest said: "We've procured all these goods by paying in advance to suppliers at Delhi and Kolkata. How they have brought these Chinese products is not our lookout."

Chinese electrical goods worth around Rs 3 crore have entered the State on the eve of Diwali. If the goods have been smuggled into the State, the government might have a revenue loss. Many shopkeepers are reluctant to disclose the sources of procurement of Chinese goods, and this says that the goods might have been smuggled into the State.

However, the people are happy to get Chinese goods at cheaper rates.

Meanwhile, traditiol earthen lamps coming from Barpeta, Goalpara, Vijaygar, etc., in the city are sold at Re 1 or Rs 2 a piece. Multi-coloured earthen lamps from Kolkata are sold at Rs 25-75 apiece.  However, each piece of multi-coloured tray containing 6-9 fixed earthen lamps and images of Ganesh and Lakshmi is sold at Rs 80-300 apiece.

Meanwhile, adulterated mustard oil has also flooded the city market for being used as fuel for chakis. Each litre of such mustard oil is sold at Rs 122-140.