Fireworks dealers in Keralam demand action against unauthorised sales
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
The fireworks industry and its licensed traders in Keralam are facing a serious crisis due to illegal online sales, unauthorised stocking, tax evasion, and impractical provisions under the central government’s Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2026, say merchants.
According to K.P. Suresh Babu, State president of the Fireworks Merchants Association (FMA), around 16,800 licensed traders and nearly 100,000 workers dependent on the industry are on the verge of losing their livelihoods and shutting down their establishments.
“While illegal online firework sales from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu continue unchecked in violation of Supreme Court directives, legitimate traders bear heavy financial burdens to maintain LE-5 licenses, adhere to safety standards, pay employee wages, local body fees, and GST. In contrast, unauthorised operators bypass all licensing, safety, and tax obligations,” he said.
The association also pointed out that the newly introduced Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2026, impose impractical conditions that directly threaten thousands of existing LE-5 licensees.
Criticizing the double standards of heavily regulating lawful businesses while allowing illegal trade to flourish, the FMA has urged the government to take immediate action.
The primary demands raised by the association include strictly curbing illegal online firework sales, taking stern action against unauthorized storage and distribution, clamping down on the excessive transport of fireworks under the guise of personal use, and thoroughly reviewing the impractical provisions of the Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
“Licensed establishments should be granted a reasonable transition period to implement necessary changes. While there must be no compromise on public safety, authorities must strictly prevent a situation where public safety is used solely to harass law-abiding traders while enabling illegal trade to flourish,”they said.
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
