Diwali, "green" wave brings fireworks industry to its knees

The sector employs thousands of workers and invoices $ 800 million.  The city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is the center of over 1,000 companies, which this year remained without commissions.  India is among the most polluted countries in the world.  Authorities try to reduce the deaths caused by air toxicity.

New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The ecological turnaround in India risks leaving the skies of the country in the dark for the Diwali festival that is celebrated this weekend.  India, among the most polluted in the world, is trying to reduce toxic emissions of fuels and other pollutants, such as the fireworks used to lluminate  the holidays.  The town that produces them in Tamil Nadu, and which employs thousands of workers - mostly women - complains of a reduction in commissions and the crisis in the sector.

The pyrotechnic industry has a turnover of 800 million dollars a year.  The companies are concentrated in the city of Sivakasi, in the southern tip of the country.  More than 1,000 companies operate here selling millions of rockets, firecrackers, firecrackers, pinwheels.  In 2018 the town produced 95% of the "barrels" sold throughout the territory.

Known as the "festival of lights", Diwali symbolizes the victory of truth over lies, light over darkness, life over death, good over evil.  The anniversary is celebrated with candles, lamps and fireworks that pollute the air for days.  Yesterday, for the second time in October, the Delhi authorities raised the alarm for the very high levels of fine dust (PM 2.5), equal to 388 micrograms per cubic meter, well above the threshold  of 60. In some areas of the capital, the level was even 689.

It has been calculated that 1.2 million people die every year in the whole country due to cardiorespiratory and vascular diseases caused by air toxicity.  This is why in 2018 the Supreme Court banned fireworks and imposed only "green and safe" fireworks, that are respectful of the environment.

The new rules have brought down the sector.  D Mathan, director of the Lima Fireworks industry, says his company received 60% less orders.  Arvind Kumar, a clerk, says that "people now have no choice but to change jobs and try to be employed on the farms or in construction companies".  For G Karuppasamy, trader, sales fell by 50%.  He disputes the ecological turnaround: "One day does not make the difference compared to the rest of the year".