Fest could get better in 2017

Diwali next year could be safer and more environment-friendly as traders say three manufacturers in Sivakasi will be installing machines to manufacture fireworks. Currently they are made manually.

Manual fireworks sometimes do not have the correct amount of potassium chlorate and other ingredients; The more such ingredients in a cracker, the more the noise.

Association of Telangana Fireworks Dealers vice-president M. Venu Gopal, said these manufacturers had obtained approvals from the Petroleum and Explosives Controlling Authority to install the machinery. “The machines will fill the ingredients as per the commands given by the operator and it will neither exceed nor fall behind the required quantity," he said.

The price of crackers could also come down next year thanks to the Goods and Services Tax, which will curb the common practice by manufacturers of printing a higher MRP.

Association president J. Manik Rao said that as there was no control in pricing, manufacturers printed a higher price on the firecracker labels.

“In many cases, they print `1,000 on labels when the cost is around `100. As GST will be collected on the MRP. must print lower MRP,” he said.

Mr Rao said that due to the increase in such fraud, sales were down year on year. “There is no change in the profits or turnover but the sales are decreasing,” he said.