8 fire cracking units licence cancelled

Fire at Sivakasi prompts move, after all 8 firms found to have violated safety norms

The special team, which camped at Sivakasi after the recent fire accident which claimed 39 lives, have suspended licence for eight companies, after it was found that these companies have violated safety norms.

Following the fire accident at Om Sakthi Fireworks in Mudhalipatti, Sivakasi on September 5, the district Collector T N Hariharan formed six special teams to inspect the fireworks factories. Later, the teams were increased to 11. The special teams raided factories in and around Sivakasi and found violations and irregularities in the safety norms.

So far licences issued to eight companies have been cancelled, the recent being on Friday for Ramu Fireworks and Vishnu Fireworks.

 

The teams includes officials from department of Petroleum, Explosives, Revenue, Inspectorate of Factories, Police and Fire and Rescue Department. The officials were directed to conduct only surprise inspections in the factories in future.

The town which accounts for over 75 per cent of the country’s firecracking industry, which has been lifeline for people here for over 100 years now.

Sivakasi has seen many such fire accidents in the past (reports says in the last 12 years, 237 lives have been lost due in 88 accidents) and Wednesday’s was the worst in 90 years, but none as devastating raising many questions on how factories get licence and operate here.

Local industry representatives the increase in number of accidents was mainly due to illegal units, which do not follow any rules and doesnt come under any regulator.

It was estimated around 700 illegal units have come in six years and they do not follow any rules and won’t come under any sort of tax net.