India’s Sivakasi Worried by Chinese Crackers

India’s Sivakasi Worried by Chinese Crackers

Sivakasi, India’s largest producer of crackers, is affected by the illegal import of Chinese crackers.

India gears up for the grand Diwali but the biggest crackers producing town “Sivakasi” in Tamil Nadu is facing a big problem. Sivakasi contributes to 90 percent of the total production of crackers in India. It exports about 4-5 percent of the total production. The problem they are facing now is nothing but the Chinese step on Crackers.

During the olden days Indians learnt the art of making crackers from Chinese. Some Indian companies such as Standard fireworks have started setting their units in China. This is mainly to learn Chinese new tricks in making crackers.

At present the biggest problem is the illegal import of crackers from China. When asked about this issue Mr. AP Selavarajan, partner of Kalishwari fireworks of Cock brand replied that ”According to the National Security Act of India the import of explosives has been banned. Moreover the chemicals used by Chinese are not permitted in India but it is coming to India in an illegal way”.

Chinese crackers are not found in Sivakasi and Southern states but it is widely seen in many parts of Delhi, Kolkata and Uttar Pradesh. The crackers are smuggled through the Bangladesh and Nepal borders. The overall Industry size of Sivakasi is approximately estimated as 900 crores. But when it goes to distributors and when it finally reaches the consumers the market value of crackers rises by several folds and finally hits a huge 3000 crores approximately. Let us see what the government is going to do to stop this illegal import.