VIRUDHUNAGAR: Associations representing the indigenous cracker industry in Sivakasi have come up with a scheme rewarding credible information leading to the seizure of China-made crackers.
The members of Tamil Nadu Pattasu Tholil and Tholilalar Paadhugappu Sangam have pasted posters across the town announcing cash awards for information.
Tip-off resulting in the confiscation of a container of the Chinese products would fetch the informer `10 lakh, whereas `5 lakh has been announced for those who help in catching lorries transporting the same.
The association has also put a price of `2 lakh for the seizure of vans, and `5 lakh for information leading to confiscation of unfinished Chinese crackers. Further, any credible information regarding sale of the Chinese items in local shops would make the informer rich by `25,000.
The initiative follows the efforts of the local cracker unit owners, who had earlier taken up the issue with the officials in the Customs and Commerce and Industry departments urging the government to crackdown on the illegal imports to protect the business, which is the source of livelihood for thousands of families.
According to the general secretary of the association, A Muthukrishnan, “The Chinese crackers pose a grave danger to the livelihood of thousands of people in Sivakasi.”
Claiming that on May 13 several boxes of banned crackers were seized from a shop in Sivakasi, he said that it was the first instance of those importing the stuff illegally being booked.