Delhi may allow green crackers this Diwali under SC guidance.
Delhi is likely to see a legal relaxation on fireworks this Diwali. The Supreme Court indicated it may temporarily lift the ban on bursting firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR).
A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and including Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved its order but allowed the “green fireworks” under the Centre’s new guidelines for the time being. This comes after years of a strict ban in the city.
Green crackers are eco-friendly fireworks developed by CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute). They release fewer harmful pollutants than conventional firecrackers.
These crackers are made with smaller shells, fewer raw materials, no ash usage, and additives that suppress dust.
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“Anything that involves combustion cannot be truly green, but it has fewer harmful chemicals, including barium or aluminium,” said Dipankar Saha, former head of the Central Pollution Control Board’s air laboratory. He helped develop green crackers in 2018.
CSIR-NEERI introduced three types: SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker), and SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium). These variants eliminate potassium nitrate and sulphur, reducing gas and particulate emissions by 30–40%.
Green crackers also avoid toxic chemicals like barium nitrate, arsenic, and lead. They produce less smoke and noise.
Despite their name, green crackers still pollute. A 2022 study by Delhi Technological University found they emit ultra-fine particles, which are even more harmful than PM2.5 or PM10.
“Even the ‘so-called green crackers still release harmful pollutants.’ Allowing them so close to winter, when the city’s air quality is at its worst, is reckless. The government must ensure fake or duplicate crackers aren’t passed off as green,” said Chetan Sharma, general secretary of the Confederation of RWAs.
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“In a toxic baseline, ‘less harmful’ does not mean safe; it's the same flawed logic once used to defend low-tar cigarettes,” added activist Bhavreen Kandhari.
Currently, Delhi lacks testing facilities to verify whether firecrackers sold are genuinely green. The QR code system for identification has reportedly been cloned by unlicensed manufacturers.
Under the Supreme Court plan, only companies certified by NEERI and PESO can manufacture green crackers. Sales will be limited to licensed vendors, with each product linked to a traceable QR code.
Experts stress that green crackers reduce emissions but do not eliminate them. The CSIR-NEERI data shows a 30% drop in particulate matter, but during Diwali, PM2.5 levels in Delhi spike 800–1500% above WHO limits, making the reduction “statistically meaningless.”
This Diwali, Delhi faces a dilemma: celebrate tradition or protect public health. Green crackers may offer a compromise, but experts warn of the risk of fake products and incomplete emission reduction. The debate highlights the need for robust testing infrastructure and stricter monitoring before eco-friendly fireworks can be truly safe.
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