In the past few years, air quality and pollution has been intensified by stubble burning, during November- December which has become a cause of concern in the National Capital Region (NCR). Thus, With Diwali right around the corner and the intensifying air pollution crisis across several parts of north India, many states have banned firecrackers and ordered only for the manufacture, sale and use of green firecrackers.
But the question arises, what are green crackers and how are they different from the traditional ones. Are they really “green” or are just “so-called”?
On 28 October, while hearing an application on firecrackers, the Supreme Court had perceived that it was not against any particular festival or community but it could not permit others to play with the citizen’s right to live in the guise of powers. It said that there was not a total ban on the use of firecrackers and it has banned only those crackers which were found to be injurious to health. “Celebration cannot take place at the cost of the other’s health. It is made clear that there is no total ban on the use of firecrackers, only those firecrackers are banned (joined, chemical) which are found to be injurious to health and affect the health of the citizens particularly the senior citizens and the children,” a bench of Justices MR Shah and AS Bopanna was quoted as saying by news outlet ANI.
With this, people have been clustering to stores demanding for green crackers, increasing their demand and wishing to celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly manner.
Green or eco-friendly crackers are made of less polluting raw materials. An idea by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, it doesn’t contain aluminum, barium, potassium nitrate or carbon, leaving a lesser impact on the environment and preventing health issues.
The chemical formulation of green crackers ensures reduced particle emission into the atmosphere by subduing the dust produced. While traditional crackers release about 160 decibels of sound, green crackers’ emission rate is restricted to 110-125 decibels. There are three types of green crackers available in India – SWAS, STAR and SAFAL. Manufacturers are required to sign a deal with the CSIR in order to produce fireworks using the green cracker formulation.
With all these advantages, however, eco-friendly or green firecrackers are much more expensive as compared to the regular ones which makes it unaffordable for a few. An individual can buy green crackers at any government-registered shop. Apart from this, one can also buy green firecrackers online.
Poosa Ramesh