SIVAKASI WEATHER
1,070 fireworks units start functioning in Sivakasi

01-03-2019
1,070 fireworks units start functioning in Sivakasi

As many as 1,070 fireworks units in Sivakasi started functioning with many workers returning to work from Thursday.
President of the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association, A Asaithambi said that though the factories had reopened, only about 20% of the crackers that do no require the banned barium nitrate will be manufactured in the next few days.

Asaithambi said the fireworks that they will be manufacturing now will only be single crackers. “These fireworks constitute about 3% to 4 %, of the total consignment. Even the fancy fireworks are not manufactured,” he said.

He said that a team from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, led by principal scientist Sadhana Rayalu had visited the units a few days ago and had told them that they had discovered an alternative to barium nitrate which would be less polluting.

“But, that will take some time as there are MoUs and agreements to be signed when it is declared in the court in the next hearing,” he said, adding that for now workers would be more involved in cleaning the factory premises which were overgrown with bushes and grasses, rather than making fireworks, till the alternative chemical is given to them.

The fireworks units in Sivakasi shutdown and eight lakh workers were left jobless after the Supreme Court ordered that only ‘green fireworks’ that do not pollute the environment be manufactured.

The units were hoping that they would be given an alternative to barium nitrate which could help them start manufacturing in full swing.


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