Fireworks producers to file review plea

Chennai: Crackers manufacturers in Tamil Nadu, home to the national fireworks hub of Sivakasi, Tuesday decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against its order permitting only green crackers. While welcoming the apex court order refusing to clamp a blanket ban on bursting of firecrackers, the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association said there was no such thing as eco-friendly  crackers, indicating that it would be difficult to produce green crackers.

The association would file a review petition in the apex court, its general secretary K. Mariappan said. Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district in southern Tamil Nadu is known for its large concentration of fireworks manufacturing units which meet demand for crackers from across the country. Besides, and fireworks manufacturing is a cottage industry in surrounding villages, employing lakhs of people.  

Mariappan expressed reservations over certain conditions laid down by the apex court on manufacture of crackers and the time for bursting them. “... We produce fireworks after receiving the approval of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. We need to explain to the court that we cannot produce such fire-crackers. We may reduce the chemicals used in them, but that would take time,” he added.