This year's Diwali brings hope for ailing Barpeta fireworks

Diwali this year has brought a ray of hope for workers of Barpeta district's fireworks industry standing on the verge of extinction, after the government sanctioned Rs 7 crore for its revival and development earlier this year.
The 127-year-old industry has now been able to distribute its firecrackers in various markets across the state, said Gopjit Pathak, owner of Asom Fireworks Industry, one of the many units functioning in the industry.
The firecrackers are expected to give a tough competition to those brought in from other parts of the country, particularly Shivakashi, Pathak said.
The government had sanctioned Rs 7 crore under the District Industries Centre for the development of the industry and 30 acre land to bring alive the fireworks industry on the verge of extinction, officials said.

Under the scheme, Pathak has set up 10 fire cracker manufacturing units on the land and the government has released Rs 3.5 crore so far.
The artisans have named the place as 'Atabaji Village' where as per the scheme all the necessary infrastructure facilities will be provided by the government along with the construction of the buildings, he said.

Claiming that the industry has a great market in the state as well as the country, Pathak said now the industry will be able to earn handsomely for itself and the artisans.
He said all these years, despite acute financial crisis, the fireworks artisans of Barpeta were running the business so that "there is light during Diwali".

At the moment, the fireworks artists at Barpeta are busy in completing the last consignments so that they reach the markets tomorrow when the state celebrates Diwali and Kali Puja, he added.
This year the industry hopes to cross its last year's supply of Rs 5 lakh fireworks.