After Police Department’s blanket ban on use and sale of firecrackers in city, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has now instructed the local administration to follow National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order to ban firecrackers during Diwali celebration. However, MPCB has allowed two-hour window to burst only green firecrackers this year as per the Tribunal’s order. As per the Tribunal’s directive, only green crackers (without barium salt) will be allowed this Diwali. The order says that on Diwali (November 4), people can burst green crackers between 8 pm and 10 pm. “District Administration has to ensure strict implementation of ban on firecrackers during Diwali. Nagpur comes under the non-attainment list of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and under this category the city will be allowed to burst green crackers for two hours only,” Anand Katole, Sub-Regional Officer, MPCB told The Hitavada.

 

Green crackers are low-emission fireworks permitted by the Supreme Court for celebrations to a moderate degree during festivals, relaxing the complete ban on fireworks previously imposed in 2017. Green crackers, researched and developed by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). The boxes of green crackers will have the logo of CSIR-NEERI certification. Those who want to purchase authentic green crackers during Diwali, should check the logo of CSIR-NEERI on the box.

 

Though the administration has announced the ban on use and sale of firecrackers in city, it is going to be a tough task for them to implement it fully as the market which has already flooded with firecrackers. Lack of awareness about green crackers among wholesalers, retailers and buyers is also there which will encourage the sale of normal firecrackers. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has not yet conduct any meeting regarding ban on firecrackers. Whereas, the police department is ready to check the use of firecrackers during Diwali.