The Supreme Court recently announced that people in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region can use and buy NEERI-approved green firecrackers for five days around Diwali, but only if they follow strict rules about timing and safety. This temporary relaxation is the first of its kind in years, promising a festive celebration while stressing the need to keep air pollution in check.
A bench led by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai listened to government proposals for strict controls, including limiting fireworks to evenings during Diwali and New Year’s Eve, as well as short periods during Gurpurab. Traditional firecrackers, according to the court, are still banned. Only “green crackers,” which claim to emit less pollution, are allowed for this trial period.
Government Guidelines and Safety Measures
Authorities set clear boundaries on how green firecrackers will be sold and used. Only licensed traders are permitted to sell these items, and online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart are prohibited from facilitating purchases. Manufacturers now have to submit detailed records and assign each product a unique QR code for tracking, which will be monitored by NEERI and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
Monitoring will be tight: officials will inspect factories and shops, conduct surprise checks, and run awareness campaigns so the public can identify genuine green firecrackers and understand their health impact. CSIR–NEERI is also tasked with ongoing research to reduce emissions from future firecrackers further.
Despite claims that green crackers produce 30–35% fewer emissions than traditional varieties, environmentalists and legal experts remain skeptical. They worry that poor enforcement might let fake green crackers slip into the market or that sheer volume during celebrations will cancel out environmental gains. Past attempts, the bench pointed out, haven’t meaningfully improved air quality, and pollution spikes remained a problem in previous years except during lockdown periods.
As the Supreme Court reserves its final verdict, permission for green firecrackers this Diwali will be watched closely. The outcome of this trial period will likely shape long-term policies about festival fireworks in Delhi-NCR, determining whether stricter or more relaxed rules will prevail.
