News Brief
SC Allows Limited Use of Green Firecrackers In NCR: What They Are and How They Differ From Traditional Fireworks
Firecrackers burst on Diwali
The Supreme Court on Wednesay (15 October) eased the blanket firecracker ban in the Delhi-NCR, permitting NEERI-approved green crackers for Diwali under certain conditions, Livelaw reported.
Green crackers are reformulated firecrackers that reduce particulate matter emissions by approximately 30 per cent compared to conventional alternatives.
Developed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in 2018, these crackers eliminate or sharply reduce harmful chemicals including barium nitrate, arsenic, lead and lithium.
The fundamental distinction lies in chemical composition.
Conventional firecrackers traditionally contain barium compounds as oxidisers and colouring agents, alongside substantial quantities of aluminium, potassium nitrate and sulphur.
Green crackers instead utilise alternative formulations with reduced chemical content and additives such as zeolite and iron oxide.
Testing in firecracker emission facilities demonstrated green crackers achieve 30-60 per cent lower barium concentration in PM10 and PM2. 5 emissions depending on type and shell size.
These formulations emit water vapour that suppresses dust particles and dilutes gaseous emissions.
Noise levels also differ significantly between the two types. Traditional crackers produce 160-200 decibels of sound, while green crackers are limited to 110-130 decibels.
The shell size in green crackers is reduced, and uniform quality raw materials are employed.
Consumers can identify authentic green crackers through a distinctive green logo and QR code system on packaging, though availability remains limited and prices typically exceed conventional alternatives.
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