Chennai, Oct 30 (KNN) Imposing no ban on the sale and use of firecrackers this year by Supreme Court is equivalent to blanket ban as the conditions that the top court has introduced with regard to sale, use and manufacturer of crackers is impossible to meet in such a short span of time, said K Mariappan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA).

Speaking to KNN India, he said “Although Supreme court has allowed the sale and use of firecrackers with certain conditions but it is indirectly most clear ban.”

He said, “We have filed a written petition in the Supreme Court against its order.”

On the same lines, Federation of Tamil Nadu Firework Traders, General Secretary, N. Elangovan told KNN India that the petition has already been filed and hearing will be held today on this issue.

Most of the fireworks manufacturing units which meet demand for crackers across the country is largely concentrated in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, wholesale dealers in Delhi-NCR region have refrained from placing orders due to apprehensions that the ban could be enforced yet again at the eleventh hour and when the decision came with the conditionalities it seemed that the demand for crackers will reduce further.

In its verdict, the top court has not banned the sale of firecrackers rather has restricted its use to tackle concerns about deadly pollution in Delhi and other cities.

In a bid to tackle air pollution, the Supreme Court has allowed the use of safer firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali next month.

“Only licensed traders can sell firecrackers that too safer ones with reduced emission and permitted chemicals," according to the Supreme Court order.