New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India has announced a significant policy shift regarding Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR, permitting the sale and bursting of green crackers for five days during the festival season. This landmark decision, delivered on Friday by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, marks a potential turning point for the Capital’s first legal fireworks celebration in years, despite mounting concerns from environmental experts about enforcement challenges.
Trial Basis Implementation for Festival Season
The court’s decision on Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR comes on a trial basis, with the bench stating, “For the time being, we will allow it during the five days of Diwali on a trial basis…However, we will confine it to certain time limits.” This measured approach reflects the court’s attempt to balance cultural celebrations with environmental protection and public health concerns.
The ruling specifically permits only “green firecrackers” approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), maintaining the ban on traditional crackers throughout the region.
Strict Time Restrictions Proposed
The Union government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, submitted a comprehensive enforcement framework for Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR that includes strict time windows for usage. The proposed schedule allows firecracker bursting from 8pm to 10pm on Diwali and major festivals, 11.55pm to 12.30am on New Year’s Eve, and one-hour slots during morning and evening for Gurpurab.
During the hearing, Mehta requested more relaxed timings for Diwali celebrations, arguing that children should not be restricted to just two hours of festivities. “It is a matter of a few days on Diwali. Let children celebrate Diwali with fervour,” the solicitor general emphasized.
Comprehensive Enforcement Plan
The government’s enforcement strategy for Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR restricts sales exclusively to licensed traders and prohibits online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon from facilitating firecracker sales in the region. Manufacturers must submit product-specific QR codes to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and state pollution control boards while maintaining detailed production and sales records.
The plan includes surprise inspections at manufacturing, storage, and retail sites, with penalties ranging from licence suspension to complete closure for violations. Public awareness campaigns will educate citizens about approved crackers and health hazards through platforms like the Sameer App and Green Delhi App.
Environmental Concerns Raised
Environmental experts have expressed serious reservations about the Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR decision. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at think-tank Envirocatalysts, warned that bursting green firecrackers could potentially set back the fight against Delhi’s air pollution by 10 years.
Experts referenced the 2018-2020 period when a similar policy for green firecrackers yielded no reduction in air pollution levels. They argue that distinguishing between green and conventional firecrackers on the ground is virtually impossible, and even green crackers contribute to pollution, albeit approximately 30-35% less than traditional ones.
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Limited Benefits of Green Crackers
The so-called green firecracker formulation for Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR offers modest environmental benefits. These products replace barium nitrate with zeolites, reduce aluminum content, and add dust suppressants. However, experts maintain that even these reductions are insufficient, and mass usage likely diminishes any potential gains.
Mukesh Khare, an air pollution expert from IIT Delhi, emphasized that poor implementation has undermined previous policies. “In the guise of green firecrackers, even conventional ones are burst which offsets any gains you may get from only green crackers,” he stated.
Judicial Propriety Questions
The court’s decision on Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR comes barely five months after another bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka reaffirmed the firecracker ban, which was extended to NCR states in April. The CJI-led bench noted this raised issues of judicial propriety, as a 2018 ruling in the Arjun Gopal case had permitted community fireworks and green crackers with specific stipulations.
Enforcement Challenges Highlighted
Senior advocate Uttara Babbar, assisting the court as amicus curiae, warned that the government’s enforcement plan for Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR amounted to “lip service,” noting that PESO has no testing facilities in Delhi to verify products in the market. The Commission for Air Quality Management had previously highlighted monitoring gaps, including instances where QR codes were sold to unlicensed producers.
Industry Livelihood Considerations
The Supreme Court acknowledged the economic impact of the firecracker ban, highlighting the plight of industry workers, many from marginalized groups whose livelihoods depend on firecracker manufacturing. This consideration played a role in the decision to permit Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR on a trial basis.
Previous Year’s Pollution Data
Last year’s data from 40 monitoring stations recorded severe spikes in fine particulate matter during Diwali celebrations. Vivek Vihar in East Delhi recorded 1,853 micrograms per cubic metre at midnight—more than 120 times the World Health Organisation’s safe limit—demonstrating the severe impact of firecracker usage on air quality.
The court’s decision on Diwali firecrackers Delhi NCR will be closely monitored to assess its environmental and social impact during the upcoming festival season.
