Diwali 2021: What are green crackers? Know what Supreme Court said on bursting of firecrackers this year

Green Crackers or Eco-friendly firecrackers: Ahead of Diwali, many states and union territories have issued guidelines restricting the bursting of firecrackers. In most of the states, these guidelines were issued in accordance with the latest orders by the Supreme Court that banned the usage of firecrackers found affecting the health of citizens.  

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In view of the rising pollution, governments in many States have asked citizens to opt for green crackers in place of highly polluting crackers.  

What are green crackers? 

The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has given the following definition for green crackers.  

Firecrackers made with reduction in size of shell, elimination of ash usage, reduced usage of raw materials in the compositions, of uniform acceptable quality, and/or use of additives as dust suppressants to reduce emissions with specific reference to particulate matter(PM*) [ SO2 and NO2] leading to: 

1) a minimum of PM reduction of 30 per cent 

2) a minimum of PM reduction of 20 per cent and rest 10 per cent  of gaseous emission (mass of gases emitted based on composition) or more reduction of gaseous emission (mass of gases emitted based on composition) 

3)  All of the above reduction will be based on when compared with conventional composition for a given category of crackers/fireworks 

What does the Supreme Court order say on firecrackers? 

As per an ANI report, the apex court said in its order, "If it is found that any banned firecrackers are manufactured, sold and used in any area, the Chief Secretary of the concerned states, the Secreatary (Homes) and the Commissioner of Police in the concerned area, District Superintendent of Police in the concerned area and the SHO/police in-charge of the concerned police station shall be held personally liable." 

The Supreme Court further said that the states and the union territories must ensure the guidelines issued by it. 

Following these orders, several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, West Bengal and others have only allowed the manufacture and sale of green crackers this Diwali.