Supreme Court orders 'only green crackers to be sold in Delhi-NCR this Diwali, other festivals'. Here's what 'green crackers' are:

After the Supreme Court imposed certain regulation on the sale of firecrackers in its October 23 verdict, the Court has clarified on Wednesday that firecrackers other than 'Green crackers' will not be sold in the Delhi-NCR region this Diwali or for any other festival. 

A bench comprising of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said that the firecrackers that are already produced can be sold only in other parts of the country. 

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and other southern states, firecrackers can be burst from 4 am to 5 am and from 9 pm to 10 pm during festivals, the apex court has directed. 

What are green crackers?

“Green crackers” are so named because they “do not contain harmful chemicals” that would cause air pollution. Components in firecrackers are replaced with others that are “less dangerous” and “less harmful” to the atmosphere, says Dr Rakesh Kumar, director the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.  

Read: Supreme Court Allows Sale Of Firecrackers With Caveats; Crackers With Reduced Emission Allowed, Online Sale Banned

In its October 23 verdict, the court had ordered that bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals would be only from 8 pm to 10 pm, making it clear that its direction on community bursting of firecrackers will apply pan India for two hours. 

The Court had also stated that its directions on the ban on the sale of firecrackers through e-commerce websites will also apply pan India.

The apex court had said that e-commerce websites will be hauled up for contempt of court if they do not adhere to the court's direction, adding that the Station House Officers of police stations concerned will be held liable if banned firecrackers are sold in their area.

Here are the regulation imposed by the Supreme Court on the sale of firecrackers:

• Manufacturers are directed to stop the sale of those crackers that emit harmful gases
• They are allowed to sell those firecrackers that are approved by the government in the country.
• Only licensed traders are allowed to sell the crackers in the market 
• No e-commerce website will be allowed to sell crackers online. 
• Barium salts in firecrackers banned
• SC bench has also directed the government to implement the appropriate suggestions to curb air pollution. 
• Even the crackers that are produced which do not fulfil the suggestions of the government will be banned
• Cracker ban not confirmed to Diwali, although the ban is applicable to all religious festivals and marriages
• Schools and colleges to be made aware of the harmful effects of firecrackers
• Firecrackers are allowed to be burst only in designated spaces

(With inputs from PTI)