Permit Sale Of Firecrackers Within Permissible Norms: TN CM Stalin Urges Delhi CM

When no other State has imposed a total ban on firecrackers, your kind act will light up the lives of lakhs of people around, Stalin told Arvind Kejriwal.

TN CM MK Stalin (File Photo)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and urged him not to impose a blanket ban on firecrackers on Wednesday. He also requested Delhi CM to permit the sale of firecrackers that fall within the permissible norms.

Bringing the letter he wrote to the attention of Kejriwal on October 13, 2021 to not impose a blanket ban on the sale of firecrackers, Stalin said, “I would like to reiterate the same request pointing out that the Apex Court has allowed bursting of firecrackers for two hours on festive occasions.”

“Bursting of crackers as a mark of celebration is an internationally accepted practice, including in highly environmentally proactive countries. Hence this calls for a balanced view, taking into consideration the negligible incremental pollution potential of crackers used for a few days and the livelihoods involved,” he said.

Further, he said that green crackers have been scientifically developed and even the Supreme Court has permitted the sale of green crackers through licensed traders.

Stalin said: “I sincerely urge you to permit the sale of firecrackers that fall within the permissible norms. When no other State has imposed a total ban on firecrackers, your kind act will light up the lives of lakhs of people around.”

In Tamil Nadu, the majority of the people in Sivakasi depend on the sale of firecrackers for their livelihood. Every year, the people of Sivakasi will witness 70% of their annual business during Diwali. However, the district has been witnessing only dampened sales for the past few years due to reasons including coronavirus spread, lockdown and pollution caused by the crackers.

Hence, the workers were hopeful that the demand will increase this year. However, the cracker ban and increase in raw material prices have only plummeted their sales.