Supreme Court allows green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days
A complete ban on firecrackers will return to the National Capital Region from November 9.
The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the sale and use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8. According to reports from The Times of India and The Hawk, the permission is limited to specific time slots between 6 am and 7 am, and 8 pm and 10 pm on those two days.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale stated that a total ban on firecrackers will be restored from November 9. The court reiterated that crackers containing barium or those not approved by CSIR-NEERI are prohibited.
The top court ordered that certain areas must be designated as 'No-Cracker Zones'. These include educational institutions and any location within 300 metres of old-age homes, hospitals, nursing homes, silence zones, and primary or district health centres.
The court also directed that only manufacturers with valid certifications from CSIR-NEERI and PESO may produce approved green crackers. To prevent the sale of conventional fireworks under the guise of green ones, each box must feature a product-specific QR code showing manufacturer and licence details.
The bench instructed authorities to identify specific locations for the sale of green crackers and prohibited online sales. District Collectors and Commissioners must work with police to monitor these sites and check vehicles entering the region to stop the movement of illegal fireworks.