New Delhi:
Ahead of the festive season, many states have banned the use of firecrackers to reduce air pollution that causes health hazards. These vary from either a complete or a partial ban on firecracker sales in these respective states to permitting the sale of ‘green crackers’ instead.
What are green crackers?
Firecrackers are a mix of harmful chemicals and metals which are known to pose a serious threat to the respiratory system. CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute defines green firecrackers as “fireworks/firecrackers made with a reduction in the size of shell, elimination of ash usage etc., reduced usage of raw materials in the compositions, of uniform acceptable quality, and/or use of additives as dust suppressants to reduce emissions with specific reference to particulate matter(PM*)” The government body also says that the formulation of these crackers helps in reducing the PM levels by 30 %.
What is it made of?
Usually, a several chemicals such as antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, barium oxides, potassium nitrate, and barium nitrate are used for making crackers. Since these chemicals are harmful pollutants they are banned by the Supreme Court. Green crackers use a special formulation that reduces the amount of these chemicals.
Rajasthan allows sale, bursting of green crackers:
Rajasthan government issued a revised advisory last week and said that only the “green” crackers would be allowed for sale and also issued the restricted timing of bursting of crackers in the upcoming festive season.
Complete ban on bursting, sale of firecrackers in Delhi
he Delhi Pollution Control Committee has ordered a complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2022.
Odisha puts a complete ban on firecrackers
:
Odisha government prohibited the sale and use of firecrackers during the festive season. “With a view to protecting the health of general public and to curb the spread of infection, sale and use of firecrackers shall remain prohibited during this festive month,” reads the state government order.
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