Need for a greener tag on green crackers

The air quality in Delhi on Diwali night this year deteriorated significantly owing to the indiscriminate bursting of crackers.

- Nikunja Bihari Sahu

The Air Quality Index plunged on that night to 488 micrograms per cubic metre which could be labeled in a ‘Very Poor’ category as firecrackers kept on lighting the Delhi skies pushing the dangerous PM 2.5 particle levels to their highest since 2021. Although this year there was a drastic drop in stubble burning in adjacent states, local emissions from fireworks dominated the spike.

Since 2021, the Supreme Court has imposed a ban on bursting of crackers in Delhi during Diwali. However, this year, the Court relaxed the ban and allowed people to use green crackers that release 30% less particulate matter. But it seemed from the sharp rise in the AQI level on Diwali night that green crackers did not get popular among people as they still chose conventional crackers due to their easy availability and low pricing. It is also believed that the green crackers available in the market still have a substantial amount of emissions like conventional ones and, hence, are not totally pollution free. Also, people kept on bursting crackers beyond the stipulated time till midnight.