With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1150: Round Table - Expert Group on Environment Zoom Meeting on “Green crackers”

15^th November, 2020, 12 noon-1pm

Participants: Dr KK Aggarwal, Padma Shri Awardee and President, Heart Care Foundation of India and CMAAO; Prof Meenakshi Dhote, Dept. of Environmental Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi; Dr SK Tyagi, Ex- Additional Director, Central Pollution Control Board; Dr Dipankar Saha, Ex- I/C Air Pollution Laboratory, Central Pollution Control Board; Sh Pradeep Khandelwal, Chief Engineer, East Delhi Municipal Corporation; Dr M Dwarkanath, Ex- Member Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee and Ex- Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Environment, Govt. of Delhi; Dr Uday Kakroo, Director, Heart Care Foundation of India: Dr Anil Kumar, Ex- Director, Dept. of Environment, Govt. of Delhi and Director,  Heart Care Foundation of India; Ms Ira Gupta, Advocate, HCFI; Dr S Sharma, Editor IJCP Group

Key points from the discussion: The meeting was chaired by Prof Meenakshi Dhote.

• There is little public awareness about green crackers, particularly in low income areas.
• There are three types of green crackers available in India: Safe Water Releasers (SWAS), Safe Thermite Crackers (STAR) and Safe Minimal Aluminium (SAFAL).
• SWAS green crackers release water vapor when burst and so dilute the dust.
• Green crackers do not contain the toxic chemicals (antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead, barium and potassium).
• The release of pollutants with green crackers is 30-35% less than with the firecrackers generally used. 
• The sound level is also less (110-120db) vs regular crackers (160db). Any sound >120db is harmful for the ears.
• The technology was developed by CSIR-NEERI.
• These green crackers carry a green logo of CSIR and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). There is also a QR code to identify the manufacturer.
• Regarding firecrackers, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had passed an order stating that the “cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below (better), only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals...” The Supreme Court of India endorsed this order and allowed sale and bursting of only green crackers for 2 hours on Diwali, Chhath Puja, Gurupurab, Christmas and New Year celebrations. This means that firecrackers were allowed only in cities with moderate air quality and not those with poor air quality like Delhi-NCR. Hence, there was a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
• It is important to create public awareness and sensitize all stake holders before implementing any order or policy. Preparedness is required.
• A change in behavior is required; options such as bursting firecrackers in open grounds outside the city rather than in every house, as is generally done abroad, need to be explored.
• COVID crisis is an opportunity to create fear that pollution is a serious issue and a threat to health.
• The 30-35% reduction in emissions with green crackers is not adequate. R&D by academic institutions is a must.
• It is generally assumed that green crackers mean that they are pollution free. A better nomenclature for green crackers could have been “eco-friendly” crackers.
• Innovative ideas such as use of balloons in place of firecrackers came up during the discussion. However, their safety needs to be reviewed.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA