The Bengal government has decided to give permission to organise a month-long makeshift market in each district where the traders can sell green firecrackers.

Those markets can be opened a month before Diwali, which is scheduled this year on November 12.

A source said the traders can start selling their firecrackers from October 12 as it would help them to get buyers for Durga Puja celebrations too.

The decision came in the backdrop of discontent brewing among fireworks traders after the government brought in several curbs following explosions in two illegal factories in East Midnapore's Egra and North 24-Parganas's Duttapukur.

At least 12 people were killed in Egra in May this year while nine persons lost their lives in an explosion in Duttapukur last month.

"The government used to issue such permission for a week for organising firecrackers markets in a few places till last year. After multiple communications from our side, the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) department agreed to keep such markets open for a month. There would be at least 50 such markets covering all Bengal districts," said Babla Roy, the chairman of All Bengal Fireworks Association.

The MSME department, however, put up several restrictions for organising such markets in the districts. The organisers have to set up such markets at least 50 metres away from localities like schools, markets, premises of electricity and telecom offices.

"It is strict that all the traders participating in such markets will have to sell green crackers. Each trader can sell 100kg of green firecrackers from a stall. The police and local administration would take the final decision about venues of such markets" said an official.

However, a section of fireworks manufacturers were unhappy with the decision at a time when the state government continued the ban on the production of green firecrackers.

They said this would only help traders who have procured firecrackers from Tamil Nadu.

"We are not happy as the government is still not allowing us to produce fireworks. It is clear that such markets will help a group of big traders who have already purchased huge firecrackers from units of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu," said Sukdeb Naskar, the secretary of Pradesh Atasbazi Byabsayee Samiti.

On September 3, over 100 firecracker manufacturers received certificates after being trained to make green crackers conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

"Over 200 more manufacturers have received legal certificates in making green crackers (since then). But still, the government is reluctant to permit production. If the government does not give us permission to make crackers, we will launch a protest," Naskar added.

Chandranath Sinha, the MSME minister, said the government was trying its best to allow green cracker production.

"A lot of manufacturers have been trained to make green crackers and the government can give permission after a thorough review. We are also making four permanent workshops for making green firecrackers in the state," minister Sinha said.