SC not in mood for blanket firecracker ban:Warns yearly directions will be a mockery if not implemented

The Supreme Court said on Thursday that it was not in favour of a complete ban on firecrackers. The court directed the authorities to implement its orders on the ground. A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale heard the case related to the bursting of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati outlined measures to curb pollution on behalf of the Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The bench said, “There is no point issuing orders and directions without implementing them on the ground. If that does not happen, it will become a joke.” 3 Supreme Court comments… Delhi government’s pollution plan Aishwarya Bhati said the Delhi government had prepared a comprehensive plan this year. She said the Delhi government and CAQM were taking several steps to tackle pollution. He said that several measures would be implemented from November. These include restrictions on old vehicles, curbs on construction and demolition activities, and changes to office timings in Delhi. Bhati said, “We are prepared to deal with the pollution season that, unfortunately, comes every year.” Use of barium to be considered after three weeks The central government told the court that internal discussions were under way on the issue of using barium in firecrackers. Bhati sought three weeks to complete the discussions. He said, “Our internal discussions on the issue of barium are not complete.” The bench said it would consider the issue after three weeks. The Supreme Court was hearing two cases related to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Besides firecrackers, the cases also involve issues such as stubble burning and solid waste management. The second petition relates to a ban on the manufacture of firecrackers. Questions over the sale and testing of green firecrackers The amicus curiae lawyer assisting the Supreme Court said that bursting firecrackers releases large quantities of dangerous particulate matter (PM). It enters the human body and damages the lungs and other organs. She said that the Air Quality Index (AQI) rose in Delhi-NCR during Dussehra last week. She also said that there is no proper system to check whether the firecrackers being sold are actually green firecrackers. The lawyer said, “Several reports state that a large number of firecrackers were burst in Delhi-NCR last year in the name of green firecrackers.” Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners in the second petition, said that the Supreme Court had already issued several orders. He said that these directions had been violated. He urged the Supreme Court to ban the manufacture of firecrackers. Meanwhile, another lawyer opposed a complete ban on firecrackers. The court’s remarks during the 30 September hearing During the hearing on 30 September, the Supreme Court had said that it would not impose a complete ban on firecrackers. The court had also said that it would not allow firecrackers to be burst round the clock. The bench had said that it was necessary to find a middle path. For this, specific time slots could be set for bursting firecrackers. During that hearing, Bhatia had submitted a note. It said that limited and conditional exemption could be considered for certain next-generation joined green crackers, based on the recommendations of CSIR-NEERI. These firecrackers would have to comply with rules related to noise, emissions and safety. They would also have to meet the prescribed conditions. These new green firecrackers have been developed in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI). These are a new type of low-emission joined firecrackers. The quantity of barium salts in them has been reduced to lower emissions. The note said that these special firecrackers could be permitted only if they were manufactured exclusively by licensed manufacturers. These firecrackers would have to comply with the prescribed noise limit of 125 dB(AI)/145 dB(C) peak. They must not contain any banned chemicals. Green Firecrackers Were Conditionally Allowed Last Year In October last year, the Supreme Court allowed the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali. The exemption was granted subject to conditions aimed at balancing traditions with environmental and health concerns. The court had made it clear that green firecrackers could be used only on the day before Diwali and on Diwali during the prescribed hours. The court had also said that the exemption was being granted “as a test case”. It would apply only for the specified period.