Stories
Green Crackers in Delhi: Will Pollution Surge Again This Diwali?
- •The Supreme Court has permitted specified next-generation green crackers, including serial firecrackers (ladi), in Delhi, raising concerns about air quality during Diwali.
- •This decision follows a similar relaxation in October 2025, which did not prevent conventional firecrackers from being used, leading to questions about enforcement effectiveness.
- •Green crackers reduce emissions by 30-40% compared to conventional ones but do not eliminate pollution, as anything involving combustion cannot be emission-free.
- •Experts like Dipankar Saha and Jinitha Varghese express concerns about enforcement and the potential for even reduced-emission crackers to add to Delhi-NCR's already high pollution levels.
- •Traders welcome regulated use but seek clarity and sufficient time to procure only permitted products, citing last year's short notice as a challenge.
Key Questions Answered
According to NEERI, green crackers are designed to reduce emissions by around 30 to 40 percent per cracker. Experts note that while they feature reduced harmful chemicals like barium or aluminium, they cannot make firecrackers completely emission-free.
Experts like former CPCB official Dipankar Saha have raised concerns over how agencies can prevent conventional firecrackers and illegal imports from neighbouring countries from flooding the market alongside green crackers, noting that enforcement has been poor in the past.
Traders have welcomed regulated use but requested sufficient time and clarity to procure permitted products from Sivakasi at reasonable rates, pointing out that last year's decision involving a three-day window came at very short notice.
