Ban on all types of firecrackers in Delhi this year as well: Environment Minister Gopal Rai

Rai said that there is a fall in pollution levels in Delhi this year. “PM 10 levels have fallen by 42% from 2014 to 2023, while PM 2.5 levels have fallen by 46% over this period. But considering the impact on health, this situation is still not favourable, particularly in winter,” he said.

The minister said even after the Supreme Court’s 2018 order to use only green crackers, “all types of firecrackers were used in the name of green crackers”.

In 2020, the NGT had issued an order imposing a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities or towns in the country where the air quality falls in the ‘poor’ or worse categories. The firecracker bans in Delhi, however, have been flouted every year, with firecracker smoke, stubble burning, and low wind speeds all contributing to air quality index (AQI) in the ‘severe’ category on the day after Diwali in previous years.

In 2020, ‘green’ crackers were allowed in Delhi for some time, but a complete ban on firecrackers came in November that year. In 2021 and 2022, all firecrackers were banned in Delhi. In 2021, the day after Diwali in Delhi registered an AQI of 462, which was the worst post-Diwali air quality since 2015.

Last year, the post-Diwali AQI (303) fared better than previous years on account of a range of factors including better wind speed, low contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels that day, wind direction and warmer temperature since Diwali was before winter had set in in full swing.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, burning fireworks releases pollutants including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, and “metal salts” like aluminum, manganese, and cadmium.

Meanwhile, the BJP opposed the ban and threw its weight behind allowing green crackers. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said: “While it may be justified to ban crackers that exacerbate pollution, green crackers, which do not harm the environment in any way, should not face restrictions. Diwali falls on November 12, the government should allow their use for a specific period on that day.”