As per a Business Standard report, the firecracker ban across the country would adversely impact 800,00 families relying on the industry and could lead to NPAs worth Rs. 16 billion for the banks.
“We want to run the factory but cannot run due to the court’s order,” said E Mariappan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Fireworks And Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA). This year, the industry produced only Rs. 40 billion worth of crackers compared to the Rs. 60 billion that were produced in earlier years. There are also fears that the crackers which were sold to distributors did not reach the retailers due to the ban. “We fear whether we will be able to collect the money for whatever we have sold to the distributor,” said Mariappan.
The Association also mentioned the confusion surrounding ‘green crackers’. “We want the Ministry to explain to the court that there is no ‘green cracker’ as of today. That the ‘SWAS’, ‘SAFAL’ and ‘STAR’ as named by the CSIR-NEERI are just three products with variants which are on the theoretical / laboratory level,” they said.
The Association has also sought an ordinance on the matter. “Also, to bring a quick remedy, an Ordinance may be passed in this regard, so that the factories can open and give employment to its workers before disaster sets in,” said the Association.
TANFAMA had also submitted in the Court that a firecracker ban would have terrible consequences for the lakhs of people dependent on the industry for employment.
Other organizations have also been expressing concerns regarding the devastating impact the ban could have. “The closure of the fireworks industry will have a cascading effect on the economy of Sivakasi town and Virudhunagar district. A large number of people were dependent on the fireworks and its allied sectors including printing, packing and logistics. Most of them were women who take up home-based work,” M Mahalakshmi, general secretary of Sivakasi Crackers and Matchbox Employees Union said recently.
