GS 3 ENVIRONMENT Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Introduction
Firecrackers can cause severe effects in the health of people like heart diseases, respiratory or nervous system disorders.

Recent News:
- In the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it should surprise no one that the National Green Tribunal has prohibited the sale and use of firecrackers during Deepavali
- in the National Capital Region of Delhi and in urban centres that recorded poor or worse air quality in November last year.
- With Diwali round the corner, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to 18 States
- including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, on prohibiting firecrackers, expanding the scope of pleas filed before it seeking a ban on sale and use of crackers in the National Capital Region (NCR).
- Supreme Court orders
- provide some concessions to cities and towns
- that have moderate or better air quality
- by allowing “green crackers”
- specified hours for bursting.
- that have moderate or better air quality
- provide some concessions to cities and towns
- These stipulations are to extend to Christmas and New Year if the ban continues beyond November.
Effects:
- Even the people suffering from common cold and coughs can cause congestion of throat and chest.
- Noise pollution causes
- restlessness
- temporary or permanent hearing loss
- high blood pressure
- sleep disturbance
- even poor cognitive development in kids.
- Firecrackers contain chemicals and substances like cadmium, lead, chromium, aluminium, magnesium, nitrates, carbon monoxide, copper, potassium, sodium, zinc oxide, manganese dioxide etc.
- which if accumulated can eventually damage health if inhaled or ingested.
NGT ban:
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed that
- there would be a total ban on sale
- use of all kinds of firecrackers between November 10 and 30
- in all cities and towns across the country where the average ambient air quality (in November fell under the ‘poor’ and above category.)
- A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson also directed that in places where the ambient air quality fell under the ‘moderate’ or below category,
- only green crackers would be permitted to be sold
- timings restricted to two hours for bursting of crackers.
- The Tribunal also directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State pollution control boards and committees
- to regularly monitor the air quality during this period
- upload the data on their respective websites.
- The NGT took note that
- Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Chandigarh, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Calcutta High Court had already responded
- to deteriorating environmental conditions by banning firecrackers this year.
Current Scenario:
- The tribunal’s reasoning giving primacy to the precautionary principle in sustainable development
- over employment and revenue losses is understandable.
- As the impact of COVID-19 became clear in March,
- there were fears of a case surge during the winter
- it was incumbent on the Centre to work with States
- resolutely prevent the burning of farm stubble ahead of Deepavali.
- This annual phenomenon fouls the air across northern and eastern India,
- imposes heavy health and productivity costs.
- In the absence of pollution from agricultural residue
- there might have been some room for a limited quantity of firecrackers
- although climatic conditions at this time of year
- of low temperature and atmospheric circulation
- would still leave many in distress.
- there might have been some room for a limited quantity of firecrackers
- Only damage control is possible now
- including steps to address the concerns of the fireworks industry.
- It should be evident to policymakers that their measures under the National Clean Air Programme
- which seeks to reduce particulate matter pollution
- by 20% to 30% by 2024
- must be demonstrably effective.
- which seeks to reduce particulate matter pollution
- By the government’s own admission, there were 148 days of poor to severe air quality during 2019 in the NCR
- down from 206 days the previous year.
- Many other cities have a similar profile, but get less attention.
- Tamil Nadu, where 90% of firecrackers are produced
- has legitimate concerns on the fate of the industry this year, which, producers claim
- about ₹2,300 crore worth of output.
- A transparent compensation scheme for workers, and suitable relief for producers may be necessary
- although the longer-term solution might lie in broad basing economic activity in the Sivakasi region
- reducing reliance on firecrackers.
- has legitimate concerns on the fate of the industry this year, which, producers claim
Green Crackers:
- The green crackers developed by the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – NEERI
- include flower pots, pencils, sparkles and chakkar.
- No doubt that green crackers are environment-friendly
- Are developed to reduce air pollution that causes health hazards.
- has no barium nitrate which is one of the key ingredients of traditional firecrackers.
- Names of these crackers are:
- safe water releaser (SWAS)
- safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL)
- safe thermite cracker (STAR).
- These crackers will release
- water vapour or air as a dust suppressant
- diluent for gaseous emissions.
- can only be manufactured by those who have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with CSIR-NEERI.
- will be sold that
- consist of a unique logo on the box
- have a QR code with production
- emission details.
Conclusion
With 40% of all pollution-linked deaths attributed to bad air quality in leading emerging economies and some evidence from the U.S. on higher COVID-19 mortality in highly polluted areas, it is time governments showed a sense of accountability on the right to breathe clean air.