Supreme Court allows bursting of green crackers for Diwali celebrations in Delhi-NCR

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the sale of green crackers from 15 to 25 October in Delhi and NCR.It also permitted firecrackers to be burst from 6 am to 7 am on the morning of Diwali and again from 8 pm to 10 pm in the evening, only at designated sites. Green crackers: A return

Green firecrackers are designed to emit 20–30% less particulate matter than conventional ones. But experts caution that they still release harmful pollutants and are difficult to regulate effectively. Enforcing such selective permissions could prove challenging, given Delhi’s already strained pollution control mechanisms. Last week, the Supreme Court reserved its order on the sale of green crackers after having allowed certified manufacturers to produce them in Delhi-NCR in September. Manufacturers welcomed the development, citing widespread use of conventional fireworks last Diwali despite the ban. They argue that allowing green crackers could formalise the trade and reduce illegal manufacturing.Traders support move Rajeev Kumar Jain, a member of the Delhi Fireworks Traders Association, said the move could curb black marketing and encourage safer options. “There’s a reason the Chief Justice said that if they don’t permit crackers, a mafia will be created.

Those engaged in illegal work must face the law, but allowing green crackers gives people cleaner and safer choices,” he said. Jain added that innovations have improved the new range of green crackers, offering 80–90% of traditional effects—sky shots, chakris, and showers—but with modified compositions that convert emissions into water vapour. “There’s huge demand across India, not just during Diwali. From January to December, there are at least 20 festivals where fireworks are used.

But only Diwali faces such scrutiny, which feels unfair,” he said.Environmental and health concernsHowever, environmentalists and health experts remain sceptical. Activist Bhavreen Kandhari argued that even green crackers are far from safe. “CSIR-NEERI data shows only about a 30% drop in emissions under lab conditions. In Delhi’s winter, when pollution gets trapped under cold air, that reduction becomes meaningless.

A single night of fireworks can poison the air for days. Allowing crackers, green or otherwise, means asking the youngest and oldest among us to pay the price,” she said. Parents also voiced concerns. Neha G Jain, mother of two young children, urged the court to prioritise public health. “Children are already suffering from toxic air, battling asthma and lung disease. The polluted air doesn’t care whether a cracker is labelled ‘green’ or not—it harms them all the same.

Diwali can be just as beautiful without crackers,” she said. Experts warn that this Diwali could see worse pollution than last year, as air quality has already started declining with the withdrawal of the monsoon. Sunil Dahiya, founder of think tank EnviroCatalysts, said, “With emissions from transport, power, and construction already high, any relaxation on crackers—even green ones—will push Delhi deeper into the severe pollution category.” According to CSIR-NEERI, green crackers reduce shell size, eliminate ash, and use additives to suppress dust. They can be identified by a green CSIR-NEERI logo and encrypted QR codes to ensure authenticity. However, a 2022 Delhi Technological University study found that even green crackers release high concentrations of ultrafine particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs. As the festive season approaches, Delhi residents await the court’s verdict, balancing tradition and public health concerns.