SC lifts ban, allows green crackers in Delhi-NCR on 2 days for Diwali, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has relaxed the total ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, allowing the sale of green crackers approved by NEERI for use on October 19-20 during specific hours [6-7 am and 8-10 pm].
• The sale of firecrackers will be permitted from October 18-20 [only green crackers].
• The Delhi government will enforce the court's conditions through designated sale locations and patrol teams.
• Delhi Police will process temporary sale license applications within two days, but currently, no one has a license to sell green firecrackers in Delhi.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court's relaxation is a temporary measure on a test case basis, following 2018 guidelines.
• The Delhi Environment Minister directed officials to ensure only NEERI-certified green crackers with QR codes are sold.
• Retailers have two days after Diwali to return or safely dispose of unsold stock, reinstating restrictions immediately.
• Police will form flying squads with officials from State Pollution Control Boards to monitor compliance.
• Police officers anticipate difficulties in enforcing the directives due to the short timeframe and challenges in identifying green crackers after they have been used.
• Firecracker manufacturers are facing challenges due to the limited time frame and restrictions on crackers made outside NCR.
• Traders fear the limited window will encourage black market sales due to high competition and limited stock.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Green Crackers: Firecrackers with a chemical composition that produces fewer pollutants than traditional firecrackers.
• NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute): An institute that has created the formulations for green crackers.
• QR Code: A machine-readable code containing information about the product, in this case, the certification of green crackers.