Diwali, the festival of lights, often has a way of turning into the festival of sound—and worse, smoke. At a press conference on Monday, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar requested people to either shun firecrackers altogether this Diwali (which falls on October 27, 2019) or opt for the green firecrackers developed by scientists at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The firecrackers will reportedly emit 30% less particulate matter and gases than conventional fireworks.
So what makes the green crackers different, and why should you consider them? Here are some common questions answered.
Why are green firecrackers important?
Past reports from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have demonstrated that conventional firecrackers contribute to heightened air pollution levels around Diwali, especially in landlocked regions like Delhi. According to the CPCB’s 2018 Diwali assessment for Delhi, air quality in terms of Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5) worsened in 2018 at all stations compared to Diwali 2017.
“Monitoring stations at Ashok Vihar, Jahangirpur, Nehru Nagar, Okhla phase II, Rohini, Vivek Vihar and Wazirpur recorded very high Particulate values during 11PM to 06 AM (on Diwali). This may be due to unfavourable conditions coupled with pollutants generated from fireworks,” the report said.
While other factors, like stubble burning, also contributed to heightened pollution in Delhi during Diwali 2018, it is clear that conventional firecrackers do have an impact on ambient air quality (besides noise levels), and that if you MUST burst crackers, green ones make more sense.
How are green firecrackers different?
The eco-friendly crackers released by CSIR replace barium nitrate with potassium nitrate as the oxidant. This replacement will bring down emissions of particulate matter, as well as harmful gases like Nitrogen Oxide and Sulphur Dioxide. The crackers will also contain water or air, and dust suppressants that make pollutants settle down. The overall use of chemicals has also been reduced.
What varieties will be available, and how will they be priced?
Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, while announcing the launch of the green crackers, said the varieties will include flowerpots, pencils, chakkar and sparklers. While individual price details were not given, he said that they will be cheaper than or priced the same as conventional fireworks.
How can you tell whether the fireworks you’re buying are eco-friendly?
The new firework boxes will have a green logo and a QR code that buyers can use to check their authenticity. If it doesn’t have both the above, the item is fake.
How will they be manufactured and sold?
CSIR-NEERI has entered agreements with 230 manufacturers to make the green fireworks. On the retail side, traders will have to obtain licenses to sell the green firecrackers. However, there’s a problem. According to news reports, the licenses are being issued from October 7, just 20 days before Diwali and just a day before Dussehra.
Traders, therefore, are fearful that delays in procuring licenses or the limited options available, might affect their business. There are also reports that some traders are stockpiling conventional crackers or illegally importing China-made fireworks containing banned chemicals.
When and why were conventional fireworks banned?
In 2018, just before Diwali, India’s Supreme Court banned regular firecrackers for all festivals. It said that only ‘green’ crackers could be sold in the country. The Apex Court also fixed 2-hour daily slots for bursting eco-friendly crackers during Diwali. To comply with the order, the government raced ahead to release green firecrackers in 2018, but these were not found to be satisfactory. Therefore, many violations of the SC order were reported across India. It remains to be seen how the current ban shapes up, and whether buyers embrace green firecrackers as an alternative to regular ones.
