Supreme Court allows green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days during Diwali
Residents may use certified green crackers on 7 and 8 November subject to strict time and location restrictions.
The Supreme Court has permitted the use of certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days during the Diwali festival, according to reports by Urban Acres and Live Hindustan – NCR. The permission applies only to 7 and 8 November, with a full ban set to resume on 9 November.
Under the court's directions, residents may only use these crackers from 6 am to 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm on the permitted dates. Fireworks are strictly prohibited within 300 metres of notified silence zones, old-age homes, and hospitals.
Only green crackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) are allowed. The court stated that crackers containing barium or any products not certified by CSIR-NEERI cannot be used, and licensed manufacturers may only produce green crackers.
The bench, comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale, noted that the matter concerns every living being. Authorities have been instructed to monitor the ground to prevent the sale of illegal or conventional crackers and to ensure compliance with the specified timings.
The court previously questioned the effectiveness of its orders, noting that issuing directions annually is ineffective if authorities do not implement them. The current relaxation ends after 8 November, when the previous complete ban on crackers in the region will come back into effect.