SMOKE & MIRRORS, Pg7.

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court is considering a potential relaxation of the total ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on a trial basis ahead of Diwali.
• The court aims to balance the interests of various stakeholders, referencing the 2018 Arjun Gopal judgment that allowed only low-emission 'green crackers'.
• Despite judicial interventions since 2015, enforcement of restrictions on firecrackers has been patchy, leading to continued use of highly polluting firecrackers.
• The Delhi government has requested the court to allow the use of certified green firecrackers during Diwali, considering public sentiment.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling prohibited conventional firecrackers, allowing only CSIR-developed "green" variants with fixed time windows for use.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed an absolute ban on all firecrackers during Diwali in NCR and other polluted cities in November 2020.
• Green crackers, developed by CSIR-NEERI, aim to reduce particulate matter and harmful gases emissions by 30-40%, maintaining noise levels below 120 decibels.
• A 2022 study by Delhi Technological University and IIT Roorkee found that even green crackers release ultrafine particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs.
• Raids by the Delhi Police Crime Branch have seized large quantities of banned fireworks, highlighting the difficulties in enforcing the ban.
• A Lancet Planetary Health study in July 2024 linked around 33,000 deaths annually in 10 Indian cities to short-term exposure to PM2.5, with Delhi topping the list.
• The firecracker industry in India was valued at over Rs 4,800 crore in 2022, employing over 9 lakh people, raising concerns about livelihoods due to the ban.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Green Crackers: Reduced-emission firecrackers developed by CSIR-NEERI to mitigate air pollution.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): A measure of air quality based on concentrations of pollutants like particulate matter.
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5): Fine inhalable particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, harmful to human health.