Sivakasi units go on indefinite strike against PIL in SC seeking nationwide cracker ban

Based on a PIL filed at Supreme Court, ban on sale of crackers in New Delhi was issued by the Supreme Court and the PIL had demanded the Court to extend the ban throughout the country. The pollution in New Delhi is cited as the reason for seeking the ban. 

However, recently a study was conducted in which it was found out that crackers were not responsible for air pollution in New Delhi.

Citing the study, members of the All India Federation of Fireworks Association (AIFFA) had demanded the Supreme Court to take up the hearing in the case soon and to deliver swift justice in the case to save the cracker industry from shutting down completely. With that demand, they had announced an indefinite strike from Tuesday. 

As announced earlier, close to 1000 cracker units in and around Sivakasi were shut down indefinitely. All the ancillary units such as box making units, sticker making units and so on were also shut down. As a result, more than five lakh workers were affected directly and indirectly. 

Chandirakumar, who owns Sree Balaji Pyrotechnics at Sivakasi said that because of the pending case, there is uncertainty over allowing cracker sale in New Delhi and if the case extends for some more months, wholesale traders at New Delhi and North India would not place orders and their business would be affected. 

Also, there is uncertainty over cracker units being allowed to manufacture and sell crackers. Already, many of the cracker units had stopped production for the next year with the fear that apex court would bring a blanket ban on crackers in the country. 

So, only a speedy trial and swift justice can remove the apprehensions among the cracker units and production would resume, said Chandirakumar.