Shivkasi:Sale of firecrackers has been partially hit in India's leading manufacturers' hub in Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi, about 550 km from Chennai.
The Supreme Court's order to sell only 'green crackers' that emit fewer pollutants has dampened the sale of firecrackers.
According to industry sources, last year the crackers sale were down by at least 20-30%, but this year the sales have come to almost half of the sales of the previous year.
Firecracker industry in Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi accounts 95 percent of the country's total fireworks demand with the revenue of around Rs 7,000 crore, which this year decreased to 40%.
1,070 fireworks mills in Sivakasi closed for three months after the last year's Diwali as sales were not up to the mark.
With thousands of workers painstakingly handmaking vast volumes of firecrackers, Sivakasi is usually at full tilt before Diwali.
But, this year as the Supreme Court has ordered that only green crackers can be produced in all fireworks factories and adding to it the sale dropped by 10% due to monsoon.
The fireworks industry has been affected due to the frequent rains in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district and its nearby district.
Firecracker manufacturers of Shivkasi alleged that since the green crackers were launched late in the district, this also affected their sale.
The manufacturers alleged that the Union Minister made the announcement on October 5, but by then most manufacturers had already made, packaged, sealed, dispatched their product without the green cracker logo and QR code.
Cracker shop owner Kumar says "This year's market is less customer-friendly compared to last year. The rise in prices is one of the many reasons. The production also began too late, with fireworks factories closed."
Gift box prices go up
The fireworks gift box is manufactured in full swing in Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi, Virudhunagar and Chathur.
The idea of a gift box has increased the sale of crackers in India. A variety of gift boxes were sold this Diwali.
The gift box of firecrackers is available ranging from Rs 175 to Rs 1200.
The gift box worth Rs 575 will feature 40 different types of crackers which will be used by all parties for all the ages was in huge demand.
Crackers with different posters
Celebrating Diwali is a celebration with brand new clothes, sweets, and fireworks.
Most of the fireworks are produced in the suburbs of Sivakasi and Sattur in India.
There are more than 1,000 mills in the region, and more than five million workers are working on making fireworks.
To increase the sale, all measures are being taken by the industry. They are introducing crackers to attract customers.
Crackers with names like Jallikattu, Temple Run, Clash of Clans and Angry Bird, Bahubali and many more are introduced in the market.
The new range of Biggest Indian Fountain, the first of its kind in India the cracker which burns in 75 seconds is on sale this year.
Sales of Green crackers
An interim judgment was issued on 23 October 2018 by the Supreme Court challenging the ban on the manufacture and the sale of crackers nationwide.
Supreme Court ruled that Barium, an important chemical element should not be used for making crackers, and only green crackers of low smoke and noise should be made. After which the manufacturers skipped the regular production of crackers in December 2018.
Since no explanation on Green crackers were made, the firecracker industries remained closed for 3 months.
In March, the National Environmental Technology Research Laboratory (NEERI), a laboratory specialist, examined the new formula for green crackers in Sivakasi, reducing the Barium Nitrate levels and substituting some chemicals, a new formula was made.
While green crackers are the talk of the town this Diwali, Sivakasi has a long way to go with effectively coping with the new green cracker policy.
Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Captive Manufacturer Ganesh Kumar said, "Green Fireworks will be fully marketed from Diwali next year."
According to the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), since many fake stickers of green crackers are made, by the Diwali 2020 QR Code scanning on the sticker will be made to identify the real ones.
The manufactures believe that Diwali 2020 will be more organized as from gaining licenses from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to bringing in mechanised technology for the production of fireworks and working out a formula to increase the shelf life for green crackers all will be done.
Also Read:This Diwali, 'ready-to-eat' crackers are new attraction
