SC hints at revisiting cracker ban in Delhi-NCR, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court is considering revisiting the ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, imposed on April 3.
• The court is examining allowing the sale and use of green firecrackers certified by NEERI and PESO during Deepavali.
• The Centre has proposed lifting the blanket ban and allowing the sale of NEERI-approved green firecrackers under strict regulations.
• The proposal includes fixed time slots for bursting firecrackers during festivals and a ban on online sales.

Detailed Insights:

• The 2018 Arjun Gopal v. Union of India ruling permitted only the manufacture and sale of "green" variants with reduced emissions and permissible noise levels.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported a dip in post-Diwali pollution levels when bans were in place.
• The Centre's proposal suggests allowing only licensed traders to sell crackers and banning "joined" or chain-linked firecrackers.
• Proposed time slots for bursting firecrackers are between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Deepavali and other major festivals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Green Firecrackers: Firecrackers with a chemical composition that produces fewer air pollutants than conventional firecrackers.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): An index for reporting daily air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is.
• Amicus Curiae: An impartial advisor, often an expert in law, appointed by a court to furnish information regarding a case.