Context: As Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) face winter pollution, the effectiveness of green crackers in reducing air and noise pollution remains questionable.
- In November 2016, the Supreme Court suspended fireworks sale licences in the NCR after Deepavali celebrations pushed PM2.5 levels above 700 µg/m³.
- In 2017, the Court relaxed the suspension in September but restored it for Deepavali in October.
- In its 2018 judgment in Arjun Gopal and Others vs Union of India and Others, the Court permitted only reduced-emission and green crackers, banned joined firecrackers (laris) and imposed a two-hour bursting window.
- The latest order permits specified next-generation joined green crackers while declining a complete ban on fireworks, citing public sentiment.
- Crackers are not the sole cause of Delhi's pollution; construction dust, vehicular emissions, stubble burning and stagnant winter air also contribute. However, fireworks can cause acute pollution spikes.
- In 2025, Delhi's post-Deepavali PM2.5 average reached 488 µg/m³, the highest since 2021, while hourly concentrations peaked at 675 µg/m³.
Limitations of Green Crackers
- Limited pollution reduction: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) states that newer green crackers promise a 45%–60% reduction in PM10 emissions.
- Real-world limitations: Laboratory estimates may not reflect actual conditions. Increased bursting of supposedly cleaner crackers can offset the pollution savings.
- Noise pollution: Green crackers do not eliminate noise pollution, which can harm human health and disturb animals.
- Weak enforcement: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported misuse of QR codes, with codes reaching unregistered manufacturers and unauthorised crackers being passed off as certified green crackers.
- Testing constraints: The explosives regulator lacked a testing facility in Delhi, while police faced difficulties distinguishing green crackers from conventional ones in 2018 and 2019.
- Informal manufacturing: Unless fireworks production enters the formal sector and certification rules are effectively enforced, unauthorised products can undermine regulation.
Way Forward
- Strengthen certification and traceability: Verify QR codes, monitor supply chains and penalise fraudulent certification.
- Improve testing infrastructure: Establish adequate facilities for testing emissions and verifying compliance.
- Ensure effective enforcement: Train enforcement agencies to distinguish certified green crackers from conventional fireworks.
- Promote public awareness: Highlight the health impacts of air and noise pollution to encourage responsible celebrations.
- Adopt a comprehensive approach: Combine fireworks regulation with measures addressing vehicular emissions, construction dust, stubble burning and adverse winter meteorological conditions.
Conclusion: Green crackers alone cannot solve Delhi's pollution crisis. Effective regulation, reliable certification, enforcement and public awareness are essential to reduce their contribution to air and noise pollution.
