Supreme Court Legalizes Green Crackers

Summary Notes: Supreme Court Legalizes Green Crackers Ahead of Deepavali

Supreme Court Ruling:

• The Supreme Court legalized the sale of "green" crackers before Deepavali to balance public sentiments, pollution concerns, and the livelihoods of those in the firecracker industry.
• Reference: Concerns about air quality, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), where a ban on crackers was imposed in 2018.

Technical Developments in Firecrackers:

• Green crackers developed by CSIR-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) reportedly cut particulate emissions by 30-80%.
• Achieved through:
  1. Use of zeolite as an additive.
  2. Water-releasing boron-based molecules for dust suppression.
  3. Metallic composites for improved combustion efficiency.
• Traditional firecracker components linked to health issues include barium nitrate and antimony.

Examples of Green Crackers:

• ‘Flower Pot’: Mixture of water and lime chemically stored, which upon combustion releases moisture, settling dust and smoke particles.
• Green Sparklers: Composed of 32% potassium nitrate, 40% aluminum powder, and 11% aluminum chips, reducing PM10 and PM2.5 by 30%.
• SWAS Bomb: Contains 72% proprietary additives, designed to significantly reduce particulate emissions.

Regulatory Framework:

• NEERI developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for registering green cracker manufacturers.
• Manufacturers must have licenses from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to receive registration.
• Nearly 1,500 applications received for manufacturing licenses, predominantly from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Environmental Considerations:

• Supreme Court acknowledged no significant improvement in air quality from 2018 to 2024 concerning overall air pollution standards.
• Air quality during the festival period has deteriorated to ‘very poor’ with particulate matter well over 1,000 micrograms/cubic meter.
• Contributing factors: Seasonal temperature drops, lower wind speeds, and agricultural stubble burning, though specific contributions remain unquantified.

Terminology:

• "Green" cracker is described as a misnomer; more accurately referred to as 'Reduced Emission Fireworks'.
• The SC ruling permitted these products under specific restrictions, recognizing the need for public celebration against environmental impacts.

Conclusion:

• The decision reflects a complex balance between traditional festivities and the pressing need for environmental management, acknowledging that while green crackers exhibit reduced emissions, their real-world efficacy remains questionable.

Key Terms for Further Study:

• Supreme Court Orders, Environmental Policy, Air Quality Standards, Emission Reduction Technologies, Public Health Impacts of Air Pollution.