Madurai: The Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association members submitted a petition to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday, seeking his intervention to lift the ban on the sale of crackers in the NCR region in New Delhi and to reduce GST from 28 per cent to 12 per cent.
They met the CM when he visited Sivakasi on Monday to participate in the MGR centenary celebrations. "It is not possible to resume work in fireworks factories after the Deepavali holiday if this situation continues," said the members, adding that the livelihood of eight lakh workers in Sivakasi was at stake due to the indifferent attitude of government and judiciary towards the firecrackers industries.
Opposition was first raised against bursting crackers between 1996 and 2008, pointing to sound pollution. After standards for sound levels for firecrackers were arrived at through legal means, a section of elites was again targeting the industry for the last 10 years, raising the issue of air pollution due to the bursting of crackers, said members of the association. While various factors contribute to air pollution on a daily basis, the court squarely blamed the fire crackers industries; this was unjustifiable, they said.
The fireworks industries manufactured crackers, following all rules including the explosive and factory rules laid out by government, said the members.
In the case of GST, though the Tamil Nadu finance minister had mentioned this in three GST council meeting, it was not taken up for discussion so far, they said, adding that unless the Centre reduces GST from 28 per cent to 12 per cent it would be difficult to run the business.
The members appealed to the CM to protect the industry from this crisis. Palaniswami assured to look into their demands, said the members.
