Mon Jul 14 09:26:35 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Over 200 fireworks manufacturing units in Virudhunagar district, India, shut down on Monday, July 14, 2025, fearing strict action from an official inspection ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT initiated the inspection following reports of frequent accidents in firecracker units. Inspection teams, comprising various officials, will check for license compliance, safety measures, and regular inspections. Units found in violation face potential closure. Factory owners apparently locked their facilities to avoid the inspections.

**News Article:**

**Virudhunagar Fireworks Factories Halt Production Amidst Safety Inspection Fears**

**VIRUDHUNAGAR, INDIA – July 14, 2025** – Over 200 fireworks manufacturing units in Virudhunagar district ceased operations on Monday, July 14, 2025, in anticipation of stringent inspections ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The closures come in response to concerns over safety violations and frequent accidents reported within the firecracker industry, as highlighted in recent media reports.

The NGT’s Southern Bench took suo moto cognizance of the issue on July 8, directing the Virudhunagar District Collector and the Chief Controller of Explosives from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to form inspection teams. These teams are tasked with verifying license compliance, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, and confirming regular inspections by relevant authorities.

“If any of the units are found to be in violation, the authorities are directed to take action, including closure,” stated the NGT order, granting a ten-day period for the completion of the inspection. The next hearing is scheduled for July 22.

According to a senior official, the inspection teams include representatives from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, as well as officials from the Revenue, Police, and Fire and Rescue departments.

“It appears that the owners of the factories have locked their facilities to avoid authorities inspecting their units,” the official added, suggesting a preemptive move to avoid potential penalties. The mass closure raises questions about the prevalence of safety violations within the Virudhunagar fireworks industry and the lengths factory owners are willing to go to avoid scrutiny. The outcome of the NGT’s inspection and the subsequent hearing on July 22 will be crucial for the future of the industry in the region.

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