In a bid to save the livelihood of nearly eight lakh workers in Tamil Nadu’s fireworks industry, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Environment Ministry to amend Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
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 alarm 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 prior to 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, Palaniswami 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 major 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.
The manufacturers suffered severe financial and employment loss due to the ban on the sale of fireworks in National Capital Region during 2017 Diwali.
More PILs
Few more PILs have been filed and admitted after the ban was lifted by the Supreme Court.
This created fear and uncertainty in the minds of the manufacturers.
Nearly 850 factories went on strike from December 26, 2017 to January 19, 2018. “During the Pongal festival, all workers lost their earnings,” Palaniswami said in a memorandum submitted to Modi in Delhi today.
An impleading petition was filed by MSMEs department on behalf of Tamil Nadu government.
The case is reserved for judgement.
“The issue has to be sorted immediately; otherwise the production of crackers and the livelihood of lakhs of workers will be adversely affected, Palaniswami said.