Government launches green crackers: Everything you need to know!

Green crackers: The Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed green crackers, which are new and improved formulations of the previous sound-emitting crackers and other fireworks. The development of green crackers is aimed at reducing pollution and health risks.

The announcement was made by the Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan during a press conference in New Delhi on October 5, 2019. The Health Minister displayed some of the green crackers including flower pots, pencils, sparklers and chakkar. 

The new and environmental-friendly version of crackers has been made available in the market for sellers and consumers, ahead of the popular Indian festival, Diwali. 

Also Read: SC permits sale, manufacture of green crackers with stringent conditions

Green Crackers: All you need to know

What are green crackers?

The green crackers are eco-friendly firecrackers that have been developed keeping in mind the pollution hazard and health risks, which the regular firecrackers pose. According to the Health Minister, the environmental-friendly crackers will not only help keep the traditional Indian festivities and celebrations intact but will also provide a livelihood to the millions of homes, which are dependent on the sale and manufacture of fireworks.

Where have the green crackers been manufactured?

The new eco-friendly, green crackers have been manufactured in India and have already been made available in the market for the sellers and consumers. 

How were the green crackers developed?

The new formulations of the green crackers were developed based on the suggestions of the Supreme Court. Almost 230 MoUs and 165 non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) were signed with firework manufacturers. 

Will the green crackers be costly?

The cost of the new green crackers will be either less or equal to their market value. 

How will the crackers be different from the previous crackers?

The green crackers have been developed by the CSIR with new formulations for reduced emission light and sound with almost 30 percent reduction in particulate matter using Potassium Nitrate as an oxidant. 

How will people different green crackers from regular ones?

The Government has developed a green logo and a quick response(QR) coding system to differentiate the green crackers from regular ones. 

Background 

The Supreme Court had banned the sale, use and manufacture of crackers that weren’t green in October 2018 due to concerns regarding the rising pollution levels. The apex court had also restricted the time to burst crackers during Diwali. 

The National Capital Territory of Delhi had witnessed very poor levels of air quality after Diwali last year. 

Under the Supreme Court order, the green crackers can’t be loud beyond a limit and have to be free of arsenic, barium and mercury. The crackers also have to be approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The Supreme Court had allowed the bulk manufacture of green crackers from May 2019, after CSIR got some samples approved by the PESO.

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