Green firecrackers can be manufactured in Delhi but can’t be sold in the capital and parts of the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court ordered on Friday.
Though green firecrackers are said to be less polluting and thus friendly to the environment, the Apex Court said its sale cannot be allowed in Delhi and the NCR due to the increasing air pollution in the region, which usually sees a spike in pollution timing with the onset of the festival season.
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria said a balance had to be maintained in such matters. CJI Gavai noted that extreme orders, such as a bar on manufacture, will create problems and instead manufacturers should be allowed to make produce green firecrackers if they follow the due norms.
The Court asked the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to put forward a solution agreeable to all stakeholders after consulting them. The Court noted that the previous ban on firecrackers was not implemented despite being set in place and drew attention to other states where banning of a certain activity had led to the proliferation of illegal mafia.
The Court asked manufacturers of green firecrackers certified by authorised agencies to give an undertaking that these green firecrackers would not be sold in Delhi-NCR.
Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar said the manufacturers can follow norms. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Centre has not suggested a nation-wide ban.
Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh said the court should not ease the existing ban on firecrackers. She noted even if there is a ban, the pollution is such that there was no ban.
Singh said that while she supported the argument on livelihood, the elderly and the ill have to be hospitalised upon exposure to pollutants.
CJI Gavai added that people selling crackers in prohibited areas should be punished by the cancellation of their licence.
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