Sale and use of firecrackers – NGT ban

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.