Sivakasi’s industry divided over tie-up to make green crackers
While only 16% units have inked a deal with NEERI, others feel they will have no choice but to sign a pact in future
The nearly ~2,000-crore firecracker industry at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is divided over joining hands with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’S) National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to produce green crackers.
This development comes at a time when 165 of the 1,000-plus units have signed non-disclosure agreements to produce green crackers. The bone of contention of a section of the industry is that though the validity of the agreement is for two years, chances are that it may become mandatory for the industry to sign it again. Also, the units may have to depend on NEERI in the future.
NEERI has been involved in firecracker emission control after the Supreme Court last year asked the Centre what steps it was taking to reduce pollution during bursting of firecrackers. Some manufacturers allege that NEERI is asking the units to sign a pact and pay a fee of ~10,000 or above, depending on the size of the unit. This is to use an additive, for which the institute holds a patent and to undergo training to produce firecrackers as per the formulation prepared by the Institute among others.
Also, there is conflict of interest, considering that raw material and formulations are developed and patented by the same institute that is the agency to certify the pollution standards of the final product. However, not all manufacturers are making the allegation.
P Ganesan, president of Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces
Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA) and director of Vinayaga Sonny Fireworks Group, one of the largest fireworks manufacturers, said there is no such restriction and the companies can purchase raw material from anywhere they want.
“Different types of additives are there. We can import also, if needed,” he said.
The additive to be used is a natural substance that is available off the shelf across the country, said another manufacturer who added that the allegations of monopoly is total humbug. Responding to the allegations that signing the agreement would result in a monopoly by the institute, a senior NEERI official said, “CSIR-NEERI has patents for the new formulations based on new hypothesis identified for targeting emissions reduction. Non-disclosure agreement signatories are required to undergo hands on training for better understanding of standard operating procedures for making of green crackers for which nominal facilitation charges have to be given by manufacturers.”
While industry representatives said manufacturers have produced most of the formulations using improved form of the prevailing formulation this year, NEERI said that presently the manufacturers are adopting new formulations only. The institute, along with sister labs, are working on developing green crackers for targeting higher emission reduction to the tune of 50-70 per cent, possibly in the coming year.
Nearly 230 memorandums of understanding (Mous) and 165 non-disclosure agreements have been signed with fireworks manufactures to facilitate a smooth transition. Close to 530 emissions testing certificates have been issued to fireworks manufactures for new and improved formulations meeting the stipulated guidelines of green crackers.
Manufacturers have been approaching the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) for final authorisation to manufacture green crackers since March 2019. A NEERI official said that a list of 28 manufacturers, approved by PESO for making green crackers, has been released in Delhi and this information may be sought from PESO office Nagpur.
“We are expecting 700 more manufacturers to adopt the new formulations,” added the official. The over 1,000 firecracker manufacturers in Sivakasi employ around 800,000 workers, directly and indirectly. The fireworks industry in Sivakasi is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel after business was impacted due to the regulations and the Supreme Court orders in the last couple of years.