NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the bursting of green crackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) for Diwali between October 18 and 21.According to the top court’s order, firecrackers will be permitted from 6am to 8am and again from 8pm to 10pm. The sale of green crackers will also be allowed only at designated sites between 15 and 25 October.The top court warned that crackers smuggled into Delhi-NCR cause more damage than green firecrackers and emphasised the need for a balanced approach, permitting celebrations in moderation without compromising the environment.
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A bench of CJI B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran said only NEERI approved green crackers will be sold and police would conduct surprise checks to ensure no manufacturer violated the green norm for crackers.SC said the apex court should not have imposed a complete ban on the bursting of green crackers without any empirical data about green crackers contributing adversely to the AQI.To enforce these rules, the top court said patrol teams will regularly check cracker manufacturers and that QR codes on green crackers must be uploaded on official sites to ensure authenticity.Additionally, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution control boards (PCBs) of NCR will monitor air quality from 18 October. The SC has also asked them to submit reports on pollution levels after Diwali.The apex court also stated that no crackers from outside Delhi-NCR can be sold in the city, and licences of sellers found violating this will be suspended.Green crackers: A returnGreen firecrackers are designed to emit 20–30% less particulate matter than conventional ones. But experts caution that they still release harmful pollutants and are difficult to regulate effectively. Enforcing such selective permissions could prove challenging, given Delhi’s already strained pollution control mechanisms.Last week, the Supreme Court reserved its order on the sale of green crackers after having allowed certified manufacturers to produce them in Delhi-NCR in September. Manufacturers welcomed the development, citing widespread use of conventional fireworks last Diwali despite the ban. They argue that allowing green crackers could formalise the trade and reduce illegal manufacturing.Traders support moveRajeev Kumar Jain, a member of the Delhi Fireworks Traders Association, said the move could curb black marketing and encourage safer options. “There’s a reason the Chief Justice said that if they don’t permit crackers, a mafia will be created. Those engaged in illegal work must face the law, but allowing green crackers gives people cleaner and safer choices,” he said.Jain added that innovations have improved the new range of green crackers, offering 80–90% of traditional effects—sky shots, chakris, and showers—but with modified compositions that convert emissions into water vapour. “There’s huge demand across India, not just during Diwali. From January to December, there are at least 20 festivals where fireworks are used. But only Diwali faces such scrutiny, which feels unfair,” he said.Environmental and health concernsHowever, environmentalists and health experts remain sceptical. Activist Bhavreen Kandhari argued that even green crackers are far from safe. “CSIR-NEERI data shows only about a 30% drop in emissions under lab conditions. In Delhi’s winter, when pollution gets trapped under cold air, that reduction becomes meaningless. A single night of fireworks can poison the air for days. Allowing crackers, green or otherwise, means asking the youngest and oldest among us to pay the price,” she said.Parents also voiced concerns. Neha G Jain, mother of two young children, urged the court to prioritise public health.“Children are already suffering from toxic air, battling asthma and lung disease. The polluted air doesn’t care whether a cracker is labelled ‘green’ or not—it harms them all the same. Diwali can be just as beautiful without crackers,” she said.Experts warn that this Diwali could see worse pollution than last year, as air quality has already started declining with the withdrawal of the monsoon. Sunil Dahiya, founder of think tank EnviroCatalysts, said, “With emissions from transport, power, and construction already high, any relaxation on crackers—even green ones—will push Delhi deeper into the severe pollution category.”According to CSIR-NEERI, green crackers reduce shell size, eliminate ash, and use additives to suppress dust. They can be identified by a green CSIR-NEERI logo and encrypted QR codes to ensure authenticity. However, a 2022 Delhi Technological University study found that even green crackers release high concentrations of ultrafine particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs.
