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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Mumbai threatened by ‘toxic’ firecrackers

Lab tests reveal fireworks contain high levels of hazardous chemicals AI generated image Mumbai: Firecrackers sold as ‘green’ may be anything but environment-friendly, with laboratory tests commissioned by the Awaaz Foundation reportedly detecting hazardous chemicals, including high quantities of barium, in several popular brands sold in Mumbai. In a warning ahead of the festive season, anti-noise pollution activist and Awaaz Foundation Founder Sumaira Abdulali has urged Chief Minister...

Mumbai threatened by ‘toxic’ firecrackers

Lab tests reveal fireworks contain high levels of hazardous chemicals AI generated image Mumbai: Firecrackers sold as ‘green’ may be anything but environment-friendly, with laboratory tests commissioned by the Awaaz Foundation reportedly detecting hazardous chemicals, including high quantities of barium, in several popular brands sold in Mumbai. In a warning ahead of the festive season, anti-noise pollution activist and Awaaz Foundation Founder Sumaira Abdulali has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to crack down on such fireworks, demanding strict enforcement of restrictions at every stage, from manufacture and distribution to sale and use. Following complaints, the foundation procured 17 firecrackers from the main markets in south Mumbai and Kurla and sent them for laboratory testing. “Several of these were found to contain toxic chemicals, including high quantities of barium. Eleven had no noise levels specified, while four did not mention the chemical composition of their contents,” Abdulali contended. The Awaaz Foundation also raised questions about claims of environmental compliance by the manufacturers. Although all the crackers were labelled ‘Green Crackers’, five brands had no QR codes, while nine of those carrying QR codes were found to have fake codes when tested, she alleged. Abdulali has called for the authorities to ensure that products falsely marketed as ‘green’ or containing hazardous/banned chemicals are not allowed to enter the market. She pointed out that the Mumbai Police and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) license firecracker distribution outlets, making enforcement and checks on products being sold particularly important in view of the larger public interest. The report comes as Mumbai enters a packed festive period - Devi Visarjan, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Guru Nanak Jayanti will be followed by Christmas and New Year celebrations, when firecrackers are commonly burst in public spaces. Abdulali noted that a recent Mumbai Police order prohibits the use of firecrackers in public places in the city until December 4, 2026, covering much of the festive season. She urged the authorities to ensure that the restrictions are implemented effectively. The potential health risks are particularly concerning as winter approaches, when weather conditions allow pollutants to linger in the air for longer periods. Abdulali said Mumbai’s Air Quality Index had deteriorated from the ‘Good’ category in the previous month to ‘Moderate’, with an AQI of 101 and PM2.5 recorded at Kherwadi on October 14, according to the figures cited by her. Referring to emails sent by the foundation on September 26 and 28 about loudspeakers, firecrackers and laser lights during the recently concluded Ganeshotsav, Abdulali appealed afresh for restrictions on laser lights and loudspeakers during upcoming festivals, including Navratri and the Mahim Dargah fair. With multiple festivals approaching, she called upon the state government to prioritise public health and ensure that misleading eco-friendly labels do not allow potentially hazardous firecrackers to reach consumers. Firecrackers: Not Fun At All The samples tested by Awaaz Foundation included popular varieties like: Flower Pot, TimTim Flower Pot, Deluxe Flower Pot, Colour Koti, Rainbow Fog, Ground Chakkar Deluxe, Power Point, King Winner Deluxe, Scarlet Saucer, Apple, Leo and Serpent Egg Big, among others. The manufacturers named comprise: Sri Padmavati Pyrotech, Sri Laxmi Fireworks, Vinayaga Sonny, Vanitha Fireworks Industries, Standard Fireworks, Rajkamal Sparklers, Sriram Fireworks, Anandha Krishna Fireworks, Vasantha Fireworks, Jai Durga Sparkles and Sri Pathrakali Paper Caps.

Unrest within Mahayuti

Writer: Abhijit Mulye
Abhijit Mulye
Jan 20, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jan 21, 2025

Mahayuti

Mumbai: The state administration on Sunday stalled the appointments of guardian ministers in Raigad and Nashik districts. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had cleared the appointments before he left for Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum on Saturday. They are believed to have been stalled on behest of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the state in absence of the Chief Minister.


NCP’s Aditi Tatkare and BJP’s Girish Mahajan were entrusted with responsibilities of guardian minister for the Raigad and Nashik districts respectively, where Shiv Sena’s Bharat Gogawale and Dada Bhuse had staked claims. Gogawale is a first-time minister while, Bhuse had been the guardian minister of the district during previous government under Eknath Shinde.


Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP all the three constituents of Mahayuti have strong roots in both the districts. However, the Shiv Sena and the NCP had been particularly on loggerheads there. The Shiv Sena, which had been demanding the guardian minister’s post in Nashik district has managed to win only two assembly seats in the district where the NCP has Six and the BJP has Five MLAs. On the contrary, in Raigad the NCP has won only one seat while the Shiv Sena and the BJP both have Three MLAs each in the district.


Sunil Tatkare, MP from Raigad Lok Sabha constituency and the stat unit president of the NCP and father of Aditi Tatkare, had been the guardian minister of Raigad between 2004 and 2014. Gogawale had always been his political opponent before Tatkare joined the Mahayuti government under Ajit Pawar’s leadership in 2023. Gogawale claimed that all the Six Shiv Sena-BJP MLAs in the district had opined in his favour to be the guardian minister of the district and after the decision to appoint Aditi Tatkare was announced, his supporters resorted to violent protests. They burnt tyres in bid to stall traffic on highway in the district. Reacting to the developments, Tatkare said that the issue should be pondered over after CM Fadnavis returns from Davos on Saturday and settled amicably.


In Nashik Girish Mahajan had been the guardian minister of the district between 2014 and 2019 when Fadnavis was the Chief Minister.


The post of guardian minister doesn’t have any constitutional mandate and is considered to be a political appointment. Guardian ministers head the district planning and development councils (DPDC) that control the funds for development works being carried out in the particular district. This control wields much of political power to the minister in that district whereby spreading the party in the district becomes much easier. This is the reason why the grass root politicians seem to be very sensitive to such appointments.


While Gogawale and Bhuse are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian ministers, some others like NCP’s Hasan Mushrif and BJP’s Pankaja Munde are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian district in their home districts of Kolhapur and Beed respectively. DCM Shinde is learnt to have gone to his ancestral village Dare in Satara district after the decision and BJP’s firefighters Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Girish Mahajan are expected to meet him there to try finding a way out of the issue.

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