To ban or not: State govts divided on crackers

On Monday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a total ban on sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR), and ordered the same to be implemented in places across the country where the air quality fell below 'poor' last year. The ban will be effective till November 30. Some regions, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Odisha, Chandigarh, West Bengal, have already implemented a ban on crackers.While many have applauded this decision, the firecracker industry has been dealt with a blow ahead of their peak business season.
COVID-19 and bad air quality can be a lethal combination: Experts
Dr Kuldeep Srivastava, head, Regional Forecast, Indian Meteorological Department, explains, “The air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR are already alarming, without any cracker-bursting. So, you can’t attribute all the pollution to crackers, but they do enhance the already high pollution levels.” Medical experts feel that banning crackers might be the right thing for now. Sandeep Nayar, senior director and head, BLK Centre for Chest & Respiratory Diseases, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, says, “It is better to avoid burning crackers, including green ones, because they emit dangerous pollutants. With COVID-19 predominantly affecting lungs, added pollution can definitely worsen symptoms for those affected.”
Cold weather brings down particulate matter and chances of this affecting overall health are higher now
— Avinash Bhondave, president, Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra chapter)
Last minute crackdown has led to heavy losses: Vendors
With the ban directive coming in just 10 days before Diwali, the firecracker industry’s peak season, vendors and wholesalers’ businesses have taken a hit. Wholesaler S Maheswaran, who supplies firecrackers across the country, says, “We were prepared for losses due to the pandemic, but the ban has made the situation worse. Despite bringing down production from Rs. 3000 crore to Rs. 1800 crore, the industry is going to face major losses.” Nagesha N, from a firecrackers outlet in Karnataka, is expecting a loss of 85 per cent this year. “From a turnover of Rs. 30-35 lakh every year, I have been able to earn only Rs. 2-3 lakh, including sales that happen in January for New Year,” he says. Subhankar Manna, a well-known firecracker retailer from Kolkata, who has been in the business for the last 25 years says “Last year it rained heavily during Diwali and Kali Puja and we already had unsold firecracker of Rs 20K to Rs 1 lakh. This year many people bought new stock. Now we do not know what to do with them.”
"Depending on the size of a cracker business – the costs go up to Rs. 30 lakh (or more) and extra expenses like rent, labour and manpower amount to an additional Rs. 5-6 lakh. This year my revenue touched only Rs. 1 lakh."
— Prabhakar, a firecracker vendor from Bangalore

Sivakasi manufacturers bat for green crackers
P Ganesan, president, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association, says that this year, 70 per cent of crackers in the market are green crackers. “These crackers bring down pollution by 25-30 per cent. Yet, due to some illegally imported crackers that contain banned substances, everyone faces problems. It is these crackers that must be banned, not the ones made as per guidelines in India.” Even seed crackers, those that grow into plants when you sow them, are in demand this year.
Divided opinions
"Fireworks on Diwali contribute to four per cent of air pollution, whereas smoke coming from industries and pollution caused by traffic contributes to around 96 per cent. Despite paying for all the licenses, such directives badly affect our livelihoods"
— Mustafa Saeed, owner of Hameed Fireworks, Jaipur
"Diwali is the festival of lights. We don’t need excessive crackers to celebrate. It can instead be about lighting lamps and diyas at our homes, dressing up and spending time with family."
— Aditi Gehlot, a homemaker from Delhi
"Like every other industry, the pandemic has dealt a blow to the firecracker industry as well. The government should do something to help those involved in the sector. Also, it is wrong to pin the entire blame of pollution on firecrackers; vehicular pollution is a major contributor too."
- Nitin Gupta, Bengaluru resident
What do different states/union territories/cities say in their order:
The cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below, only green crackers be sold, and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals like like Diwali, Chhath, New Year/Christmas Eve etc, as may be specifed by the state concerned
— Order from a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
Delhi NCR: Blanket ban on sale and purchase of firecrackers, from November 7- 30. Delhi government, along with the people of the city is making all arrangements to deal with the issue (COVID19 pandemic and air pollution)
— CM Arvind Kejriwal
Action will be taken against those not complying with ban on firecrackers under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act which invites jail term of up to 6 years and fine of up to `1 lakh
— Minister for Environment, Delhi, Gopal Rai
West Bengal: Ban on all firecrackers for Kali Pujo and Chhath Puja; six months jail term against anyone buying, selling or bursting crackers
— Calcutta High Court
Rajasthan: “In order to protect the health of COVID19 infected patients and the general public due to poisonous smoke emanating from firecrackers, strict action has been taken to prohibit the sale of firecrackers in the state.”
— CM Ashok Gehlot
Odisha: Odisha prohibits the sale and use of firecrackers from November 10 -30 in public interest. Anyone found violating the order will be punished as per provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005
— Special Relief Commissioner, P K Jena
Chandigarh: Complete ban on sale and use of firecrackers. Violation can "invite penalty under Section 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other legal provisions”
— UT advisor Manoj Parida
Mumbai: BMC bans of firecrackers in public places under its jurisdiction. Use of soundless firecrackers like ‘phooljhadi’ and ‘anar’ will be allowed between 8-10 pm on Diwali
Karnataka: "It is only pertinent to celebrate the festival in a simple and meaningful way by using only green crackers"
– CM BS Yediyurappa
With inputs by: Abhimanyu.Mathur@timesgroup.com, Bishwabijoy.Mitra@timesgroup.com, Anup.Satphale@timesgroup.com, Jaspreet.Nijher@timesgroup.com, Joyeeta.Chakravarty@timesgroup.com, Neha.Choudhary@timesgroup.com and Riya.Sharma@timesgroup.com