Supreme Court permits next-generation green crackers with stricter controls

The Supreme Court has rejected a nationwide firecracker ban and accepted scientific recommendations for a limited relaxation on new fireworks ahead of Diwali.

New Formulations

On September 30, the apex court ruled that manufacturers can produce next-generation joined green crackers if they meet specific noise, emission and safety rules. The Court stated it will not allow round-the-clock bursting and may consider fixed time windows instead. CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute developed these reworked chemical formulations to release fewer fine particles without losing brightness, sound or shelf life. Additives like zeolite and water-suppressing compounds replace conventional heavy metals linked to respiratory illnesses. Laboratory analysis indicates these newer variants cut particulate pollution by 45% to 65% for PM10 and PM2.5 compared to older types. However, experts note these figures remain unverified in real-world conditions. Only manufacturers licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation can register with the research institute to produce them.

Stringent Limits

The approved products are joined string crackers redesigned to burn five braids a second instead of 25, stretching the burn time fivefold. Smaller shells have reduced solid waste by 4% to 32%, while noise levels must stay within established peak decibel limits. Meanwhile, researchers are still modelling how barium from these fireworks disperses in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bhopal, with final results expected by October 15.

Context

Public health debates over festival fireworks routinely balance cultural traditions and artisan livelihoods against severe winter air pollution in northern India. Scientific bodies continue to evaluate whether cleaner chemical compositions can sufficiently mitigate the heavy smog that typically blankets urban centers during the colder months.