NGT order bans crackers nationwide, TN fireworks industry in doldrums

By Venkatachari Jagannathan Chennai, Nov 9 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday banned the sale and use of firecrackers across the country during this Diwali which has shaken the fireworks industry, said a senior official of the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA).
The NGT in its latest order banned firecrackers during Diwali nationwide where the average ambient air quality from November 9-10 till November 30-December 1 midnight falls under the ‘poor’ and ‘worse’ category.
The Tribunal passed the orders based on the ‘Precautionary’ principle.
The industry officials said the issue will be discussed to decide the future course of action.
“The NGT order will impact our industry for next two seasons and only from the third year onwards normalisation would return provided no other adverse orders are passed against the industry,” S. Balaji Pavanasim, TANFAMA Secretary and CEO Anil Fireworks, told IANS.
“The entire system may collapse. There are several other industries like printing, paper boards, among others, dependent on the firecracker industry employing lakhs of people,” he added.