What Makes a Cracker 'Green'?
The term 'green cracker' doesn't mean they are entirely eco-friendly. Rather, they are a reformulated, less-polluting version of traditional fireworks. Developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute
(CSIR-NEERI), these crackers are designed to have a smaller shell, use less raw material, and suppress dust. The key feature is a significant reduction in emissions — at least 30% less particulate matter. They also do not contain harmful chemicals like barium nitrate, which is common in conventional fireworks and contributes to both pollution and health hazards. There are different types, such as SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), which releases water vapour to suppress dust, and STAR, which has reduced sulphur and nitrogen. The goal is to mitigate the acute spike in air pollution seen during festivals without imposing a complete ban on fireworks.
The Regulations on The Books
The legal framework for green crackers stems from a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling. Faced with alarmingly poor air quality, especially in cities like Delhi, the court prohibited the manufacture and sale of conventional crackers. It permitted only the use of improved, reduced-emission green crackers that are certified by CSIR-NEERI and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The regulations are multi-faceted. They restrict bursting crackers to a specific time window, typically two hours in the evening (e.g., 8 PM to 10 PM) during Diwali. Furthermore, the sale of these crackers is permitted only through licensed traders; online sales via e-commerce platforms are strictly banned. The court has consistently reiterated that these rules apply nationwide, not just in the Delhi-NCR region.
The Challenge of Identification
One of the biggest hurdles for consumers and authorities is distinguishing genuine green crackers from counterfeit ones. In theory, the system is straightforward. Authentic green crackers must feature the official CSIR-NEERI logo and a scannable QR code on the box. Scanning this code should lead to a verification page detailing the manufacturer's licence and product information. In practice, the market is flooded with fakes. Reality checks have revealed boxes falsely labelled as 'green crackers' without any logo or QR code. In other cases, the QR codes are gimmicks, leading to non-existent websites, unrelated images, or even deactivated links. This widespread mislabelling not only deceives consumers trying to follow the rules but also undermines the entire regulatory effort, as conventional, more polluting crackers are passed off as the approved alternative.
The Limits of Enforcement
Even with clear rules, enforcement remains the weak link in the chain. Authorities face an uphill battle in preventing the production and sale of illegal fireworks. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has even reported instances where licensed producers sold their official QR codes to unregistered manufacturers, legitimising non-compliant products. Beyond the point of sale, enforcing the time restrictions for bursting crackers is a significant challenge for local police departments across the country. Recent court observations have highlighted that bans on bursting crackers in public places are routinely violated. The sheer scale of the festival, coupled with the difficulty of monitoring every street and neighbourhood, means that the two-hour window is often ignored. This gap between the law on paper and its implementation on the ground is a major reason why pollution levels continue to spike during Diwali, despite the regulations.
A Partial Solution at Best
It is crucial to recognise that green crackers are a mitigatory step, not a complete solution. Experts point out that even a 30-40% reduction in pollution is not enough to prevent a hazardous air quality spike when millions of crackers are burst in a concentrated period. If the volume of crackers used increases under the assumption that they are 'safe', any potential environmental gains could be nullified. The debate continues to evolve, with courts seeking a balance between public health, tradition, and the livelihoods tied to the fireworks industry. Ultimately, the regulations have created a framework for change, but their success hinges on overcoming significant challenges related to manufacturing integrity, market availability of genuine products, and robust, consistent enforcement.
