Local fireworks set to take on Sivakasi cousins this Kali Puja
Times of India | 28 October 2024
Kolkata: Fifty local manufacturers with nearly 200 varieties of green fireworks will take on the Sivakasi (a city in Tamil Nadu) imports this Kali Puja and Diwali season in Bengal.
Certified green fireworks are marked with the CSIR-NEERI logo and a QR code, which can be scanned to verify certification, the manufacturer’s details, and the exact emission reduction levels. The green fireworks are designed to emit 30% less particulate matter than the traditional ones.
Despite the environmental benefits, green fireworks remain a challenge in terms of accessibility, awareness, and affordability for both producers and consumers. Doubts have arisen about the emission levels of green fireworks due to limited compliance with testing standards. The local manufacturers had shown reluctance for mandatory testing. Many manufacturers reportedly avoided emission testing by CSIR-NEERI, which certifies green fireworks at a cost of Rs 8,260 per sample.
Amid such developments, only a fraction of the licensed producers complied with certification requirements. Of the 273 NEERI-certified manufacturers, only 50 are licensed to produce green fireworks.
According to Sukdeb Naskar, secretary of the Pradesh Atasbaji Byabsayee Samiti, the govt had issued short-term licences for green fireworks sales.
However, the promised manufacturing clusters intended to promote green fireworks production are yet to be established, adding to the sector’s challenges. Under the new restrictions, short-term licenses allow vendors to sell up to 50 kg of eco-friendly fireworks. District magistrates are required to thoroughly inspect all applications to minimize accident risks before issuing such permits. The fewer local manufactures have also not completely wiped out the concerns over emission levels.
For a seasonal market stretching primarily from Nov to year-end, manufacturers say the high testing cost is burdensome, despite the fact that this period coincides with elevated pollution levels.
In Bengal, the govt has banned non-green fireworks only. It has allowed green fireworks, with strict guidelines on usage, during Durga Puja, Diwali, Chhath, and Christmas celebrations. Nevertheless, enforcing curbs remains a concern as roughly 1,00,000 rely on fireworks industry for income, and a complete ban could risk employment without an alternative, said a senior officer.