QR-coded green crackers for Diwali, designated sale spots in Delhi-NCR: Top points from Supreme Court order

Also, the crackers being sold should have QR codes. The court said that this relaxation is being allowed on a trial basis only.

Here are the top five points from the Supreme Court’s order on firecrackers before Diwali:

Limited sale window

The Supreme Court said only green crackers approved by CSIR–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will be allowed in Delhi-NCR from October 18 to October 21, as a temporary relaxation of the firecracker ban.

Strict cracker sale regulations

Only licensed traders registered with the NEERI can sell the green crackers. Sales will be allowed only at designated locations identified by the district collectors in consultation with the police.

Monitoring and enforcement

Special patrolling teams will monitor all sales sites and verify the QR codes on the products. They will also collect random samples to ensure compliance. Any illegal crackers or non-NEERI-approved items will be confiscated, and the licences of violators will be cancelled. They may even have to face fiscal penalties.

Cracker bursting timings and restrictions

The use of crackers is allowed only between 6 am-7 am and 8 pm-10 pm. Crackers containing barium or those bought outside NCR are completely banned.

Pollution Control Oversight

The Central and State Pollution Control Boards will track air quality (AQI) levels in NCR starting October 14 and submit reports to the Supreme Court.