Firecracker Ban

2nd November, 2021 Polity

Figure 1: No Copyright Infringement Intended

Context

The Supreme Court on September 29, 2021 observed that six major fireworks manufacturers had violated orders requiring them not to use prohibited chemicals such as Barium salts and to label the firecrackers in compliance with the law.

The court has also asked the committee to make recommendations on a legal and policy framework on cyber security to ensure the right to privacy of citizens is protected.
the court ruled out a full ban on firecrackersand issued orders stipulating that only reduced emission and green crackers be allowed, with tight restrictions on timings when they could be burst.

there is no total ban on use of firecrackers and only those fireworks which contain Barium salts are prohibited.
no authority can be permitted violation of the directions issued by it and allow banned firecrackers under the guise of celebration.
celebration cannot be at the cost of the other's health.
Under the guise of celebration, nobody can be permitted to infringe the right to health of others, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India .

The Central Pollution Control Board conducted a study in Delhi in 2016, and found that the levels of Aluminium, Barium, Potassium, Sulphur, Iron and Strontium rose sharply on Deepavali night, from low to extremely high. For instance, Barium rose from 0.268 microgrammes per cubic metre to 95.954 mcg/m3.

Air pollution: Fine particulates increase short-term pollution to record levels leading to high air pollution. Studies in Europe, Canada, and China have established links between fireworks bursting and variations in air quality This was visible in Delhi prior to the regulations.
Health issues: toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead, chromium, aluminium which are present in firecrackers can damage health if inhaled or ingested. Even people suffering from common colds and coughs can cause congestion of the throat and chest.
Effect on Children: A 2007 study published in ‘Atmospheric Environment’ magazine established that children were at greater risk due to cracker-enhanced particulate matter in the air. Further, Firecrackers can also lead to poor cognitive development in kids.
Effect on animals: Firecrackers lead to hearing loss, blood pressure, sleep disturbances, heart ailments, and nausea effects on pets.
Noise pollution: Firecrackers are the source of Noise pollution. The noise can cause restlessness, high blood pressure, temporary or permanent hearing loss. Further, if blasted at night, it can cause sleep disturbances.
Manufacturing hazards in firecrackers: Workers in the firecracker industry develop serious respiratory diseases. Further, there is mushrooming of Unlicensed units with unsafe working conditions, leading to frequent accidents in firecracker industries. Apart from that, fire accidents can occur if fireworks are handled incorrectly during sale and use.

It leads to loss of livelihood for the workers engaged in the firecracker industry.
Many communities perceive it as the violation of their rights to celebrate the festival. It is perceived as the unnecessary intervention of state in personal affairs of individual.
Rather than Supreme court, it should be the respective state authorities who should regulate the firecracker. As the air pollution level is varied across india, a single policy cant be made for the whole India.
Loss to Economy: The Indian firecracker industry is the second largest in the world. The Indian Fireworks’ industry boasts of over Rs. 6000-crores worth of annual turnover. The firecracker industry has also witnessed an annual growth rate of about 10 percent prior to the ban.

Green Crackers must be made affordable and widely available for choice to the consumers.
Necessary support must be provided to the firecracker industry to promote the environment friendly crackers.

Green Crackers are formulated by CSIR-NEERI that has no barium nitrate which is one of the key ingredients of traditional firecrackers.
Names of these crackers are: “safe water releaser (SWAS)”, “safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL)” and “safe thermite cracker (STAR)”.
These crackers will release water vapour or air as a dust suppressant and diluent for gaseous emissions.
These products can only be manufactured by those who have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with CSIR-NEERI.
Only those green crackers will be sold that consist of a unique logo on the box, and also have a QR code with production and emission details.