Delhi seeks limited relaxation for green crackers ahead of Diwali: How they differ from traditional fireworks

Expecting a possible relief from the Supreme Court ahead of Diwali on the firecracker ban in the national capital, the Delhi government has drawn up extensive plans to ensure pollution levels remain under control and that no violations occur through the use of prohibited fireworks, officials said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court observed that a complete ban on bursting firecrackers in Delhi-NCR is “neither practical nor ideal,” noting that such restrictions are often violated and that there is a need for a balance.

The remarks, seen as a signal of possible relaxation, came from a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, which reserved its order on a set of pleas seeking permission to manufacture and sell “green” firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government was seeking limited relaxation to allow people to celebrate during the festival.

“A ban on bursting of firecrackers on the festival in Delhi is not proper. We want relaxation so that people can celebrate by bursting green crackers,” he said, adding that the government had requested lifting of the ban for at least one hour each in the morning and evening on Diwali and Guru Parab.

What are green crackers?

Green crackers are eco-friendly fireworks developed by CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) in India.

According to a paper published by CSIR-NEERI, green crackers significantly reduce air and noise pollution by eliminating harmful chemicals like barium and using additives that suppress dust and release water vapour.

These are designed to have a lower environmental impact.

How are green crackers different?

According to a paper published by CSIR-NEERI, the green crackers are not fully "pollution-free" but are a much safer alternative to traditional fireworks, which contain toxic elements like lead, cadmium, and barium nitrate.