Deepavali celebrations this year began much earlier in Sivakasi, the hub of fireworks, thanks to a Supreme Court judgment that allowed bursting of green crackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) for four days for the festival of lights.
“It is a joyous moment for the industry,” says P. Ganesan, president, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers’ Association (TANFAMA). All major associations of manufacturers have welcomed the October 15 ruling, saying it means more sales for the manufacturers.
The judgment has come against the backdrop of the fireworks industry of Sivakasi battling legal tussles for years over accusations of emissions from fireworks further polluting the air during winter in Delhi-NCR. “The industry won’t get any immediate benefit this Deepavali because the court order comes too close to the festival. But it has given us hope for future business,” says A. Asaithambi, president of Sivakasi Fireworks Manufacturers’ Association (SIFMA).
Delhi-NCR consumes about 13% of the fireworks made in the country, manufacturers say. Opening up this market will boost sales for the manufacturers and livelihood of 8 lakh workers in the arid regions of Virudhunagar district, they add.
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