More than 860 fireworks factories in and around Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, the national hub of the fireworks industry, announced an indefinite closure on 26 December, demanding an amendment to the Environment Protection Act exempting their products from it's purview.
They also wanted an expeditious hearing by the Supreme Court, of a petition seeking a series of steps to curb air pollution, including a ban on sale, possession, and bursting of firecrackers across the country.
The manufacturers said dealers were not paying advances for ordering fireworks, in view of the pending petition seeking a ban on sale of firecrackers. They added that this affected the working capital required by the industry.
Industry sources said the indefinite closure would affect the livelihood of eight lakh workers, employed directly and indirectly in the units in and around Sivakasi, which met over 85 percent of the country’s fireworks requirement.
The All India Federation of Fireworks Associations functionaries said for several decades traders from north India used to pay an advance for crackers, which would work out to more than 75 percent of the working capital required by the units.
The Federation added that traders and dealers were not paying the advance as they feared that the court could ban fireworks across the country.
Besides seeking a ban on firecrackers across the country, the petition has sought directions for environment-friendly, cleaner fuels, and the implementation of regulations on dust from construction activities.
The apex court had said on 9 October that no firecrackers would be sold in Delhi-NCR during Diwali this year, while banning fireworks sale till 1 November.
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