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THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 406 FOR ANSWER ON 24.03.2021.
(a): As per Rule 24(3) of Explosives Rules 2008, fireworks manufacturers are exempted from submission of quarterly return of fireworks production. Hence the information on the total quantity, value and percentage of fireworks manufactured is not maintained.
(b) & (c): The details of Fireworks exported in last three years is given below:
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Year Quantity exported (kgs)
(as per DGFT) Value of Exports
(as per DGFT records)
2018-2019 57423 41,96,404.40 INR
58609 USD
2019-2020 15686 23,33,730.40 INR
32594 USD
2020-21 11500
(till December 2020) 81,46,290 INR
113775 USD
(till December 2020)
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[Exchange rate taken as 71.60 on 19.03.2021 as notified by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs]
(d) & (e): Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) and the concerned District Authorities are aware of the recent accidents which occurred in Fireworks factories in Virudhunagar Districts Tamil Nadu which resulted in causalities and injuries to workers. The total number of accidents that happened during last 3 years in fireworks manufacturing industries and compensation provided by the Government to the affected victims/families is as under:
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Year 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
(till 23.03.2021)
Number of accidents 16 14 9
(Source: PESO)
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The District Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu has given compensation as follows:
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Year Number of Deaths Amount
2018-19 2 Rs. 2 lakh
2019-20 17 Rs. 51 lakhs
2020-21 31 Rs 70 lakhs
(Source: PESO and Government of Tamil Nadu)
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PESO and District Authorities visited the accident premises and the licences issued to the manufacturers were suspended. Preliminary investigations has been conducted by PESO in last two accidents that have taken place at Sree Mariammal Fireworks Factory, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu on 12.02.2021 and at Thangaraj Pandian Fireworks, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu on 25.02.2021. Also, the District Magistrate, Virudhunagar has been requested to conduct Magisterial inquiry as per Section 9 of the Explosives Act 1884. Besides, the Honourable National Green Tribunal Principal Bench, New Delhi has constituted a committee of experts under the chairmanship of Justice Kannan (Retd. High Court Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court) to investigate into causes, circumstances and other factors leading to the accident at Sree Mariammal Fireworks on 12th February 2021. The committee had visited the accident premises on 26-02-2021.
To prevent accidents in fireworks industries, PESO conducts regular inspection of licensed fireworks factory premises. During the inspection, if serious violation is noticed, penal action is being taken against the licensee as per the Explosives Act, 1884 and Explosives Rules, 2008. Further PESO has conducted safety awareness programs for various section of fireworks fraternity like foreman, factory workers, transporters and retailers with regard to safe manufacturing and handling of fireworks.
The details pertaining to number of inspections, suspension / cancellation of licence and training programs conducted by PESO Sivakasi for last three years is given below:-
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S. No. Details 2018-19 2019-20
2020-21 (till December 2020)
1 No. of Inspection carried out by PESO 541 235 398
2 No. of Suspension of licence 58 65 47
3 Cancellation of Licence 10 10 01
4. No. of Trainings / Awareness Programs conducted 42 51 30
(Data source: PESO)
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