SC rules out total ban on firecrackers for Deepavali, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has ruled out a nationwide ban on firecrackers for Deepavali, opting instead for a "limited and conditional relaxation".
• This decision accepts recommendations from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) for next-generation green crackers.
• These green crackers must comply with specific noise, emission, and safety requirements, including a prescribed noise limit of 125 dB(AI)/145 dB(C) peak.
• The new-generation crackers are developed without harmful chemical ingredients like barium and show a 30% reduction in emissions compared to conventional ones.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court emphasized a balanced approach, acknowledging both cultural sentiments and concerns regarding air pollution, especially during the festive season and winter.
• The court indicated it would look into directing specific time windows for bursting crackers, rather than allowing 24-hour use, to protect vulnerable groups like the sick, elderly, and children.
• CSIR-NEERI's report highlighted that the new green crackers differ from conventional ones in shell/tube size, formulation, bursting duration, and frequency, leading to reduced noise and particulate emissions.
• Tests also revealed a significant reduction in solid waste generation, ranging from 4% up to 32%, due to the shrinking of the shell size in green crackers.
• The Central Pollution Control Board and the Union government have been granted additional time to conduct further tests on barium and joined firecrackers to assess decibel levels and environmental impact.
• The court's decision builds upon previous rulings aimed at mitigating air pollution caused by firecrackers while allowing for regulated celebrations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Green Crackers: Environmentally friendly firecrackers developed by CSIR-NEERI designed to produce less air and noise pollution, often by excluding harmful chemicals like barium.
• CSIR-NEERI: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, a premier Indian scientific body focused on environmental science and engineering research.
• Barium: A chemical element, specifically barium nitrate, previously used in firecrackers but now largely banned due to its toxic effects and significant contribution to air pollution.
• Decibel (dB): A logarithmic unit used to measure the intensity of sound, crucial for setting noise limits for firecrackers.