The state micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) department has written to the district magistrates asking them to issue a temporary licence for the sale of green firecrackers for up to 30 days ahead of the upcoming festival season.
The letter has prompted allegations from environmentalists that the state pollution control board (PCB), which has so far played a key role in providing permissions in all matters related to fireworks, has been sidelined, despite the fact that fireworks units are listed as “Red” or highly polluted industry.
“As per section 84 of explosive rules 2008, temporary selling licenses (100kg for green fireworks plus 500kg for sparklers) can be issued by DM for a period up to 30 days (before festival),” MSME secretary Rajesh Pandey wrote in the letter sent to all district magistrates on September 20.
Earlier, the MSME department had forwarded to senior police officers and district magistrates a petition from the fireworks lobby seeking exemption for some categories of non-green fireworks, asking them whether the request could be considered.
A Supreme Court order has imposed a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of non-green fireworks.
The department had also told the police officers and DMs that licences for manufacture and sale of green fireworks, and renewal of lapsed licences, will be provided through “a simplified online module” run by it.
A WhatsApp message from this newspaper to MSME secretary Rajesh Pandey on Sunday evening seeking his comments on the matter did not fetch any response.
Earlier, the PCB used to give the final consent for setting up fireworks manufacturing units. But now its role seems to have reduced significantly.
“We have been asked to set up a laboratory to test the green firecrackers,” was all a senior PCB official said when asked about the alleged shift in role. “Issuing clearances (for manufacture and sale of fireworks) is still the PCB’s responsibility,” a Central Pollution Control Board official told Metro over the phone from Delhi.
“As per the provisions under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986… fireworks are hazardous substances and therefore manufacturing and storing of fireworks required appropriate permission from explosive department and… West Bengal Pollution Control Board,” Biswajit Mukherjee, a member of the non-profit Paribesh Academy and former chief law officer of the PCB, wrote to the MSME and environment secretaries and other senior officials.
“But it is observed... that the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and explosive department are absolutely absent in the process of granting permission for manufacturing, storing and other related matters due to some obscure reasons.”
“As per the standing Supreme Court order, the MSME department does not have any locus standi or technical knowledge in the matter. Still, it has taken a dominant role... it seems to be working to ensure that illegal fireworks are sold,” said green activist Naba Dutta.
“We don’t have enough green fireworks to sell for 30 days,” said Subhankar Manna, from a fireworks association. “We have enough fireworks to be sold,” said another trader.