Sivakasi sleepless as states ban firecrackers this Diwali | Chennai News

This Diwali, the chorus to ban fireworks is getting louder. On Thursday, the Delhi government and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation banned firecrackers amid mounting Covid-19 cases. The Calcutta High Court also issued a similar directive imposing restrictions on the use and sale of firecrackers during Kali Puja to curb pollution.
The Rajasthan government on Sunday announced a ban on fireworks this Diwali and the wedding season that follows, citing health concerns of those infected by Covid-19 and announcing fines for sale or use. Odisha has also imposed a similar ban. In Tamil Nadu, messages urging people not to light fireworks citing the safety of Covid-19 patients are circulating on social media platforms.

But all of this spells a blanket of sadness for the fireworks manufacturing industry comprising eight lakhs of workers in and around Sivakasi, as Diwali accounts for 70% of annual business. The fireworks ban is the third blow for Sivakasi due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first was a 30% drop in production due to the closure of units during the initial shutdown phases. It was followed by a drop in demand due to the economic crisis.

Rajasthan accounts for 12% of the fireworks consumption in the country and is an important market. Although Odisha accounts for less than 3% of consumption, it remains a cause for concern, as a continuation of this trend in other states would pose a greater threat to the industry. Although 80% to 90% of production has been shipped for Diwali, wholesalers and retailers in states that have banned fireworks have started asking units in Sivakasi to get their stock back and money back.

Other dealers have made it clear that they would not be able to order for at least a year as they would not be able to liquidate the current stock. The unit owners said that this, in turn, will result in absence of work if there is no demand for the products. This could have a lasting impact on the industry’s livelihoods for more than a year.

The president of the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Love Makers Association (Tanfama), P Ganesan, said that the fireworks will not cause any harm to those affected by Covid-19. “The 1,070 fireworks in and around Sivakasi in the Virudhunagar district remove fireworks by burning it at the end of the day. There are no respiratory difficulties suffered by workers or the public or harmful effects on those infected by Covid-19 in the area, ”he said.

The Virudhunagar district is registering less than 20 cases a day in recent days. Countering the statement by Rajasthan Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot, Tanfama claimed that fireworks do not emit poisonous gases. “Only fireworks imported illegally from China have such harmful chemicals. These chemicals are not used in fireworks made in India. Indian fireworks release mainly nitrogen, which is inert, harmless and non-toxic, ”he said.

Tanfama has written to the Prime Minister, the Environment Ministry, the CMs of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, and the leaders of various political parties to explain that fireworks will not cause complications for people suffering from Covid-19.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, KS Alagiri, appealed to the CM of Rajasthan to ask for permission for the eco-friendly fireworks as they are scientifically developed to reduce pollution.