Fireworks manufacturers from Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi on Monday urged the Supreme Court to relax the ban on firecrackers, saying the top court had been misled on their alleged ill-effects and that the gradual closure of the nearly century-old industry was forcing workers to indulge in illegal activities.

In a statement here on Monday, Sivakasi Fireworks Manufacturers’ Association president A. Asaithambi and others said: “Fireworks emission standards are to be fixed by involving the manufacturers. The ban on the use of barium has to be lifted. The manufacture of joint crackers is already allowed as per the Explosives Rules, 2008, in such a way that the noise of individual crackers is not above the noise pollution norm that is 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB (C) pk at 4 metres distance from the point of bursting.

“This condition has to be restored. As for Delhi or any other place where the ambient air quality index is above 200, the current two-hour stipulation for bursting crackers itself will help achieve the 30 per cent reduction in emission from fireworks. For the rest of the country, the two-hour restriction has to be relaxed.”

Sivakasi Sparklers Manufacturer’s Association adviser and core committee member P.C.G. Asok Kumar said: “Sparklers are the most innocuous products among fireworks. So are the pencils, torches, charki and flowerpots. Even these items could not be manufactured because of the ban on barium. It’s total injustice for stakeholders of the industry. We want the government to interfere and save this industry. We pray to the honourable Supreme Court to provide justice to this industry.”

“Manufacturing has turned into the paradise of bootleggers. Workers are migrating to illegal manufacturers for want of jobs, jeopardising their safety. Several cases of workers unable to get medical treatment from the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation for want of sufficient contribution or regular attendance have also emerged,” S. Ravi, a fireworks manufacturer, said.

On October 23, 2018, the top court had banned the use of fireworks other than “green crackers”, which are said to reduce emission by 30 per cent.