The Fireworks Factor: Tamil Nadu CM Fears Huge Job Losses Due To Existing Environment Laws; Seeks Amendments

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Environment Ministry to amend Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, to save the livelihood of nearly eight lakh workers in Tamil Nadu’s fireworks industry.

As per rule 3(b) of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, only when the level of any of the pollutants mentioned in the table in Schedule VII exceeds the prescribed limit for two consecutive days ‘shall the warning bells ring and continuous monitoring and further investigation instituted. In the case of fireworks, almost all reported scientific data has revealed reversing of the level of pollution to the level before the use of fireworks, within 24 hours.

“Tamil Nadu’s fireworks manufacturers use nitrate salts for production, which is less polluting than chloride salts. Further, none of the firework manufacturers in Tamil Nadu use prohibited chemicals, the CM said. Nearly 850 fireworks manufacturing units function in Tamil Nadu and produce 90 per cent of India’s fireworks. However, the industry is facing a significant setback due to Public Interest Litigations (PILs) by NGOs and individuals before the Supreme Court to ban the manufacture, sale and use of fireworks in any form, as reported by HBL.

The manufacturers suffered severe financial and employment losses due to the ban on the sale of fireworks in the National Capital Region during 2017 Diwali. This created fear and uncertainty in the minds of the manufacturers.

Nearly 850 factories went on strike from 26 December 2017, to 19 January 2018. “During the Pongal festival, all workers lost their earnings,” the CM said in a memorandum submitted to Modi in Delhi today. An impleading petition was filed by MSMEs department on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government. The case is reserved for judgement.

“The issue has to be sorted out immediately; otherwise the production of crackers and the livelihood of lakhs of workers will be adversely affected,” he added.

A statement was made by Sivakasi's Sony Fireworks Director Ganeshan who said that the livelihood of eight to ten lakh people depends on the fireworks industry and that there was a lot of uncertainty due to the Supreme Court’s decision , as reported by ANI.