India’s Supreme Court permits certified green firecrackers in Delhi
The court limited fireworks use on 7–8 November to 06:00–07:00 and 20:00–22:00 local time, as Delhi’s air quality index reached 377 on Wednesday morning.
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The court limited fireworks use on 7–8 November to 06:00–07:00 and 20:00–22:00 local time, as Delhi’s air quality index reached 377 on Wednesday morning.
India’s Supreme Court on Monday permitted the manufacture, sale and use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi and neighboring areas for a limited period, the BBC said. The order sets hours and locations for use during the approaching Diwali weekend.
Earlier restrictions included outright bans on firecracker manufacture, sale and use. In its latest order, the court acknowledged that conventional firecrackers had continued to be sold as green alternatives even during a complete ban.
Fireworks may be set off on 7–8 November only from 06:00 to 07:00 local time (04:30–05:30 Yerevan time) and from 20:00 to 22:00 local time (18:30–20:30 Yerevan time). The court also banned fireworks within 300 meters of hospitals, care homes, schools and other designated silence zones.
Green firecrackers use altered chemical formulations designed to produce fewer emissions than conventional fireworks. They must carry QR codes so buyers and authorities can check the manufacturer and certification. The court directed police to patrol designated sales areas, conduct random QR-code checks and seize illegal firecrackers.
Delhi’s air quality index stood at 377 on Wednesday morning, falling in the pollution watchdog’s “very poor” category, which covers an air quality index (AQI) of 301 to 400. The index takes eight major pollutants into account, including PM2.5, fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Prolonged exposure to such polluted air can cause breathing problems and worsen existing illnesses; children and older people are particularly vulnerable.
The deterioration followed Delhi’s lowest average October AQI in eight years. Experts attributed the sudden decline to falling temperatures, slow winds and increased burning of crop residue in neighboring Punjab and Haryana. A recent storm had brought rain and stronger winds that helped clear the air, but as the weather settled, northwesterly winds returned, carrying smoke from burning fields toward Delhi. Authorities have invoked Stage II of their pollution response plan, introducing measures to curb dust, vehicle emissions and other sources.
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There are concerns that Diwali fireworks could push pollution higher. Last year, Delhi woke to a toxic haze the morning after the festival, when a court directive had called for less-polluting firecrackers.
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