9th November 2013

Courtesy: The Times of India

National conference on fireworks to be held in Sivakasi

The second conference on fireworks under the theme "Enhanced Management of Fireworks" will be held in Sivakasi on November 22 and 23. Addressing media persons in Sivakasi, R Venugopal, controller of explosives and centre in-charge of petroleum and explosives safety organisation (PESO) said that the conference will be jointly organised by Tamil Nadu Fireworks & Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA), The Indian Fireworks Manufacturers Association (TIFMA) and Tamilan Fireworks & Amorces Manufacturers Association (TAFMA) in collaboration with PESO.

The two-day conference and exhibition is the first-of-its-kind in the fireworks hub of the country. The conference will focus on bringing together individuals of different scientific background to provide fertile atmosphere in which to see the latest technology, to trade experience and ideas on ways to enhance the fireworks industry. Six technical sessions will be held and 28 technical papers would be presented during the conference. Eminent professionals from the Pyrotechnic Industry, scientists from CSIR, IGCAR and statutory authorities will be presenting papers in different technical sessions, he said. The six technical sessions will include safety in manufacturing, quality control, exports of fireworks, mechanisation of hazardous procedures in manufacturing, reviving Fireworks Research & Development Centre (FRDC) at Sivakasi and there will be a technical session on studying the case studies of two major fireworks accident that shook Sivakasi - Dawn Fireworks Accident in 1998 killing 36 people and Om Sakthi Fireworks Mudalipatti in 2012 killing 40 people. "There will be lot of thrust on mechanisation of the hazardous procedures in fireworks manufacturing and many big players have already started working on it", Vengopal said. They are expecting more than 1000 delegates across the country and 40 stalls exhibiting the latest state of art machineries in fireworks manufacturing and allied activities will be displayed in the exhibition. As the special feature, a regular fireworks display and musical fireworks display will be conducted at Sivakasi on the final day of the conference, he mentioned.