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Bengal Fireworks Body Alerts CM Mamata on 'Dangerous' Eco-Cracker Training

A West Bengal fireworks association has urgently written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, warning of dangerous training sessions in South 24 Parganas that teach the making of illegal 'cold pyro' fireworks under the banner of eco-friendly cracker production. The letter alleges the use of high-risk, banned chemicals not approved by safety authorities, creating a severe accident risk. It references the recent Anandapur fire tragedy that killed 27 people, blamed on unauthorized raw materials. The association demands mandatory preservation of quality test reports and immediate government action to control the situation.

Key Points: Bengal Fireworks Group Warns CM Mamata of Risky Cracker Training

  • Illegal 'cold pyro' training raises alarm
  • Banned chemicals like nitrocellulose used
  • Warning cites deadly Anandapur fire
  • Demands mandatory quality test reports
  • Seeks immediate administrative intervention
2 min read

Bengal fireworks association seeks CM Mamata's intervention to stop 'dangerous' training for eco-friendly crackers

Fireworks association seeks Mamata Banerjee's intervention to stop dangerous 'cold pyro' training, citing banned chemicals and accident risks.

"under the guise of training on 'environmentally friendly fireworks', some illegal and dangerous fireworks called 'cold pyro' are being taught - Babla Roy"

Kolkata, Feb 11

Sara Bangla Atashbaji Unnayan Samity has written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing concerns about the "dangerous" training imparted in the name of making eco-friendly firecrackers, sources said on Wednesday.

A copy of the letter has been sent to the state's Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Small and Cottage Industries Department.

The letter, written on Tuesday, has demanded immediate administrative intervention.

The association's chairman, Babla Roy, alleged that under the guise of training on 'environmentally friendly fireworks', some illegal and dangerous fireworks called 'cold pyro' are being taught in the Badge Budge area of ​​South 24 Parganas district.

He claimed that these products do not fall under the ambit of fireworks at all and high-risk chemicals like 'nitrocellulose' and 'amyl perchlorate' are used in their manufacture.

The letter clearly states that all these chemicals are not approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) and are on the banned list.

The letter further states that if such education is given to unlicensed and untrained people, the situation may go beyond the control of the administration. If such education in making fireworks spreads, it will no longer be possible to control it and its result may lead to terrible accidents and loss of life.

In the letter, the platform also mentioned the recent Anandapur fire incident which claimed lives of 27 people.

They claimed that the use of low-quality, unauthorised and banned raw materials in that accident resulted in the loss of many lives. To prevent such incidents, it has been demanded that firework manufacturers make it mandatory to preserve the quality test reports of raw materials and related invoices from laboratories approved by the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the National Accreditation Board of Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The association believes that this will make it easier to determine the real cause after the accident.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is very concerning. After the Anandapur fire, we cannot afford any more risks. Why are banned chemicals being used in the name of 'eco-friendly' training? The authorities must act swiftly and shut down these illegal operations. Public safety cannot be compromised. 🙏
R
Rohit P
Good step by the association. There's a proper way to make green crackers, with PESO approval. These backdoor workshops using nitrocellulose are a disaster waiting to happen. The government needs to support the legitimate industry while cracking down on these dangerous shortcuts.
A
Ananya R
While the concern is valid, I hope this isn't just established players trying to stifle innovation in the eco-friendly space. We need green alternatives for Diwali. But of course, safety protocols and PESO guidelines must be followed strictly. The demand for preserving test reports is a good one.
S
Suresh O
The Badge Budge area has many small units. If untrained people are handling amyl perchlorate, it's a recipe for catastrophe. The district administration must conduct immediate raids. Jai Hind, but safety pehle.
M
Michael C
Reading this from abroad. The chemical names alone sound alarming. It's crucial that environmental initiatives don't bypass core safety standards. The association's proposal for mandatory lab reports seems like a sensible accountability measure to prevent future loss of life.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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