How green crackers offer cleaner option amid pollution concerns

AS India gears up for Diwali celebrations, green crackers have emerged as a cleaner alternative to traditional firecrackers, aiming to reduce environmental and health impacts.

- VISMAY BASU @New Delhi

Developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research — National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), these eco-friendly crackers are engineered to emit fewer pollutants while maintaining similar sound and visual effects.

Green crackers reduce emissions of harmful substances such as barium, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide by 30 to 60 percent. This is achieved through modified chemical compositions that include additives like zeolite and iron oxide. These bind with fine particulate matter such as PM10 and PM2.5 forming heavier compounds that settle more quickly, thus limiting air dispersion.