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from india Supreme Court Limited use of “green” is allowed fireworks” for two days during Diwali festival Next week, even as air pollution It has reached dangerous levels in the capital.
This festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. Hindus light lamps and set off fireworks to celebrate, with several million kilograms burned in a single night in major urban centers like Delhi, shrouding the city skyline in smoke.
In North India, the festival coincides with the beginning of the winter haze season, when stagnant air becomes a trap of smoke from fireworks, traffic and the burning of crop residues.
According to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, Delhi is one of the world’s most polluted megacities and air pollution is cutting the life expectancy of its residents by an average of 11.9 years compared to WHO guidelines.
The decision has thus reopened the debate over whether these are as clean as they are supposed to be. fireworks These are a marked contrast to the traditional skies that turn the capital gray every winter.
The court described its decision as a “temporary measure” and a balancing act. “We are called upon to strike a balance between the interests of the industry and the health of the general public, especially the aged, the sick and infants,” a bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai said.
The court said the complete ban imposed seven years ago has proved ineffective as smuggling of illegal fireworks continues in the capital.
The decision bans the sale of firecrackers brought from outside the National Capital Region and limits their use to a pair of small windows from 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm on the eve and day of Diwali.
What are ‘green’ fireworks?
So-called green fireworks are marketed as a low-emissions alternative to traditional fireworks. These were developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) after the Supreme Court banned conventional fireworks in 2018.
Manufacturers claim that the new formulations emit 30-40 percent less particulate matter and sulfur dioxide and reduce noise by 120 decibels. Only firecrackers with QR code issued by NEERI are allowed to be sold.
How ‘green’ are they?
While green fireworks may emit less smoke in controlled tests, scientists and doctors are skeptical about the difference in real-world effects. Indian hospitals regularly report a spike in emergency visits for difficulty breathing, wheezing and chest pain during and after Diwali.
“These fireworks still release fine and ultrafine particles like PM 2.5 and PM 10, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream,” said Dr Syed Abdul Aleem, a senior pulmonologist in southern Hyderabad city. Business Standard.
A Study The survey, conducted jointly by Delhi Technological University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, found that green fireworks also emit large amounts of ultrafine particles smaller than 100 nanometers, which can reach the deepest parts of the lungs.
“Green crackers have not been well studied,” said Dr. Manoj Kumar of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Indian Express.
“And there is no way for the user to know whether a cracker is actually ‘green’ or not.”
NEERI scientists said the formulation is improving.
“We have developed formulations that can reduce emissions by up to 60 per cent, but there are gaps in the research,” Dr RJ Kripadam, chief scientist at CSIR-NEERI, told the same paper. He said that the use of toxic metals like barium, lithium, lead and mercury will be banned in all approved products.
Activists said health concerns were ignored in the top court’s decision. Bhavarin Kandhari, founder of Warrior Moms, an organization fighting for clean air, said it ignores “science, medicine and even past decisions that have already established that there is nothing green about them”.
He pointed out, “Legally, this is a step back from Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to life and clean air. Medically, it is a blow to children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases, for whom even short exposure to this pollution can trigger asthma attacks, hospital visits and permanent damage.” Independent,
“You can’t legislate clean air during the day and allow poison at night.”
Delhi’s annual Diwali challenge
Apart from the “green” status of fireworks, Delhi faces another familiar challenge: enforcement of the law.
Firecrackers have been banned in Delhi since 2020, but residents continue to violate the ban and firecrackers are available for purchase.
While green fireworks are expected to contain QR codes and certifications, counterfeit and mislabeled products continue to flood the market.
“When green crackers were experimentally tested in 2018, it failed,” said Mohan George, a former Delhi Pollution Control Committee official. Indian Express,
“The QR codes and stickers did not help. It is very difficult for the police to differentiate between green and conventional firecrackers.”
Every year, Diwali celebrations in Delhi coincide with the beginning of the winter haze season, when cold air and pollutants from crop burning in neighboring states get trapped near the ground.
In 2023, the city’s air quality index reached 640 in some districts, 10 times higher than the safe limit set by WHO. This year, meteorologists hope favorable winds will delay the severe smog, but the city’s air remains the most polluted in the world.
Air pollution has already become worse
The Supreme Court’s decision to allow “green” fireworks came a day after the city’s air pollution management body imposed new restrictions after the air quality index crossed 200.
Delhi’s pollution authorities imposed new restrictions on construction and vehicle use after air quality deteriorated in the middle of the week. The city is also planning to use artificial rain for temporary relief, which the government has long planned to test.
Delhi Environment Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed the decision as a “balanced approach” that “respects public sentiments” while protecting the environment.
He said, “Our aim is to ensure that the festive spirit remains intact and the environment is also safe.”
The top court directed the pollution control boards to monitor the air, water and soil quality in the National Capital Region between October 14 and 25 and submit a report before the next hearing.
A study published in June that analyzed more than 40 years of data showed that air pollution caused 135 million premature deaths over the past four decades.
Over this period, the “highest number of premature deaths due to PM 2.5 pollution” occurred in Asia, at more than 98 million. India And China is responsible for most of them.