Firecracker ban hurts sentiments, Indian ones don’t cause pollution: Swadeshi Jagaran Manch

The SJM had urged states to avoid a complete ban on firecrackers based on “false propaganda”.

“We need to know that pollution caused by firecrackers was primarily due to illegally imported ones from China and not India-made green crackers. Chinese firecrackers had mix of potassium nitrate and sulphur.

However, in locally made green (pollution-free) firecrackers, potassium nitrate, sulphur are not mixed; and other pollutants such as aluminium, lithium, arsenic and mercury, etc. have been reduced to the minimum.

These green firecrackers are certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. It’s scientifically proven that green crackers cause 30 per cent less pollution,” Mahajan said.

The SJM argued that while states such as Delhi, Haryana and Punjab had failed to curb stubble burning, they were misguiding people by banning firecrackers.

“It’s a matter of great regret that government agencies have failed to solve the problem of stubble burning in various parts of the country, including Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. Stubble burning remains the biggest source of air pollution in the national capital and surrounding northern states, and on the occasion of Dipawali, they try to misguide people by banning firecrackers, diverting attention from real cause of pollution,” Mahajan said.

The SJM has urged all state governments to find a permanent solution to the pollution due to stubble burning.
“We should not forget that in Tamil Nadu (Sivakasi), West Bengal and many other parts of the country, livelihoods of more than one million people depend on the firecracker industry. Throughout the year, these people wait for Deepawali to sell their firecrackers. In such a situation, it is not prudent to ban green firecrackers,” Mahajan said.

“The last-minute decision of Delhi government as well as DPCC to ban even green crackers is highly deplorable, as the same is not only arbitrary, anti-people, bereft of any scientific basis, it is also hurting the sentiments on the occasion of Dipawali. Swadeshi Jagran Manch also urges the Delhi Police to come clear on whether they will follow the arbitrary orders of Delhi government of arresting citizens for possessing or bursting firecrackers,” he added.