The Supreme Court has ruled out both a blanket ban on firecrackers and their unrestricted use throughout the day ahead of the festive season, while permitting the use of specified next-generation joint green crackers, subject to conditions recommended by expert bodies.
A Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice P.B. Varale was hearing the long-running firecracker case concerning restrictions on the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers in view of their impact on air quality.
The Court indicated that a balance would have to be maintained between environmental concerns and the sentiments associated with the festival. It made clear that it would neither permit a complete ban nor allow firecrackers to be burst throughout the day.
The Court was also informed about next-generation joint green crackers, commonly referred to as laris. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union Government, submitted that expert bodies including CSIR-NEERI had recommended that specified joint crackers could be permitted subject to safeguards.
The expert recommendations include conditions concerning the number of shells, size of the shells and the time interval between bursts. The Court indicated that it was inclined to accept the recommendations for permitting the specified category of joint green crackers subject to these safeguards.
The more contentious issue concerning barium-containing Generation-2 green crackers, however, remains open.
The Union Government informed the Court that further outdoor testing was required to assess the actual impact of barium content on ambient air quality. The proposed assessment involves testing at Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata and Chennai, representing locations with different air-quality and emission conditions.
The Centre and the expert bodies have been given time until October 15 to complete the assessment, after which the Court will consider the issue relating to barium-containing firecrackers.
Earlier, in September 2 proceedings, the Bench had considered the Centre’s proposal concerning Generation-2 green firecrackers and directed further scientific assessment.
At that stage, CSIR-NEERI had identified Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata and Chennai for the proposed study on the impact of barium content in Generation-2 green firecrackers. The Court had also sought details of safeguards relating to the shell number, shell size and time between bursts for new-generation joint firecrackers.