HC directs govt to form squad to seize Chinese crackers

The Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu Government to form a separate squad to seize Chinese crackers and also prevent its distribution and sales.
Justice N Kirubakaran also directed the government to inform the Court by October 26 regrding the members of the squad and impleaded the DGP, Police Commissioner, Chennai, Joint Controller of Explosives as suo motu respondents in the case.
The petitioner, Shaik Abdullah, Executive Secretary of Chennai Metropolitan City Cracker Members Association, sought direction to Municipal Administration, Water Supply Department and Chennai Corporation Commissioner to identify and construct permanent market place for selling crackers here manufactured in Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district.

He submitted that due to shifting of selling places of crackers from shops to Island Grounds here, new enterants came to sell the Chinese Crackers causing heavy loss to them.
Stating that shifting the crackers market from George Town area to the Island Grounds was only a interim measure but no prospective measures have taken place till date for a permanent market.
They further submitted that new system of selling crackers in the Island ground was indirectly taken away by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation by issuing tenders at larger rates forced the vendors to quit from the trade.

The petitioner further alleged that because of the increase in the tender prices the rates of indigenous products has gone up which paved the way for the consumers to get the Chinese crackers.
The Association contended that a representation to allocate 8,000 sq ft space near Kamarajar Salai War Memorial for selling crackers was not considered by the authorities.