SATISH HANDA

Shivkashi in Tamil Nadu state is known as hub for manufacturing crackers in the country having nearly 1070 licensed manufacturing units in the area with annual business worth over 2000 to 2500 crore providing employment to nearly 3 lakh persons and supplying crackers all over in the country. Apart from this there are few units manufacturing crackers in other towns across the country having sale worth about Rs 500 crore annually.

According to Ganeshan President of Tamil Nadu Fireworks Manufacturing Association, the industry in the areas was able to manufacture crackers of value worth Rs 1400 crore during present year having nearly 70% production as compared to previous years due to lock down declared by the government in the country as such manufacturing units were either remained closed having no production and were able to get hardly 50% orders during the year due to lock down. Ganeshan said, in-spite of this association has decided not to increase the prices of crackers this year due to overall economic slow down in trade and industry.

Narender Gupta President of Sadar Bazar Fire Works Traders Association, Delhi told that usually in the month November every year prior to Diwali festival handsome orders for the crackers were received, but this year the sale has witnessed heavy slump as compared to previous years.. He said, between 30-40 varieties of crackers are available in the market and nearly 80% of these are having ‘green tags’ due to strict action by National Green Tribunal (NGT) a Government of India body, which are soundless as well as pollution free as compared to ordinary crackers though production cost of these crackers is generally higher. NGT has imposed ban over sale as well as use of crackers spreading pollution in four states in North, besides strict ban over harmful crackers imported from China,

A prominent supplier of crackers in North Raja Chander Shekhar told that earlier sale of crackers started two months prior to Dushehra and Diwali festivals in past years but this year the manufacturers of crackers are having extremely poor sale even during festival season due to epidemic outbreak terror in the country as well economic crisis faced by trade and industry in the country. He told that generally orders for the crackers are received in four rounds during the year: from months December to January in the first round, in the month March in second round, in month June in the third round and in months September and October in fourth round due to bumper sale during Dushehra, Diwali, Chrismas and Lohri festivals.