New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s directive on green firecrackers has sparked questions: what exactly are green crackers, and how are they different from regular firecrackers? The court has allowed their use in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) from October 18 to 21, restricting them to 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm on the day before Diwali and on Diwali, aiming to balance festive celebrations with environmental safety.

What are green crackers?

According to reports, the green crackers are developed by CSIR-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute), designed with smaller shells, reduced raw material usage, and no ash content. They also contain additives that act as dust suppressants, lowering emissions of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. According to CSIR-NEERI, green crackers reduce particulate matter by at least 30 per cent.

Understanding particulate matter

Particulate matter (PM) is a term for tiny particles present in the air. It is classified by size into PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and ultra-fine particulate matter. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate into the human body, posing greater health risks.

Supreme Court’s ruling

The court noted that firecrackers smuggled into Delhi-NCR during Diwali cause more environmental damage than green crackers. By allowing their use in a limited timeframe, the Supreme Court described the decision as a “balanced approach”, permitting festive celebrations without compromising environmental safety.