Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has requested his Rajasthan and Odisha counterparts to revoke the ban on sale and use of firecrackers in their respective states, considering its impact on about eight lakh workers in Tamil Nadu, the national fireworks hub.
In identical letters to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, he pointed to the ban imposed in both the states over pollution concerns in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
About 90 per cent of the total cracker manufacture in the country is from Tamil Nadu which provided direct and indirect employment to about eight lakh people, Palaniswami noted.
"Their livelihood solely depends on the sale of crackers during Diwali season. The ban on bursting crackers in your state can have a direct bearing on the livelihood of over eight lakh workers in Tamil Nadu and an equal number of people engaged in its sale," he said.
"I would like to bring to your kind notice that Tamil Nadu produces mainly green crackers and therefore the question of environmental pollution does not arise. There is no empirical or validated data to demonstrate that the bursting of crackers has an effect on COVID-19 patients.
"I, therefore, request you to reconsider your governments decision to ban the sale and bursting of crackers in your State for this Diwali season. My advance Diwali wishes to you and your family," Palaniswami said.
As per a 2018 Supreme Court direction, Tamil Nadu has only restricted bursting of green crackers to one hour inthe morning and for an equal time duration in the evening, he added.
The fireworks industry is mainly concentrated in and around Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district in southern Tamil Nadu.
(PTI)