The mood in India's fireworks capital

The future is uncertain for the 1,070 units of the nearly century old fireworks industry that employs lakhs of workers in and around Sivakasi – the pyrotechnics capital of India. Hit by the pollution row over the past four years and Covid-19, the owners of the industries are clueless on the way forward.

“By this time we would have the factories completely cleaned out with all the stocks dispatched. But due to the ban by various states and uncertainties some factories are left out with up to 20% of their annual stock. The future is so bleak,” said vice-president of the Indian Fireworks Manufacturers Association A S Rajendra Raja. “The loss cannot be recovered,” he said, but feared if the situation persists they will be left with no option but to switch to other industries. “Even then only the bigger units will be able to move on, the debt-ridden smaller ones may have to shut shop for good,” he said.