NEW DELHI: The chemical formulation of '
green crackers' has now been finalised and its bulk manufacturing could start from May after getting approval from government agency. This comes almost four months after manufacturing of polluting
firecrackers was banned and only green firecrackers allowed by the Supreme Court.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which were entrusted with the task by the court to formulate the chemical composition of green crackers, told the apex court that trial sample of green crackers had been developed and tested for performance efficiency.
They told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that testing of light emitting fireworks was demonstrated successfully in the presence of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) which is to approve the chemical composition.
“It is envisaged that product approval for new formulations shall be given by PESO by April 30 and the bulk production of fireworks shall be initiated by May 10,” the minutes of meeting, which was placed before the bench, said. It said that emission of pollutants in green crackers would be reduced by 25-30 percent and memorandum of understanding has been signed with nearly 200 manufacturers.
“After the joint work in various fireworks manufacturing factories situated in an around Sivakasi(in Tamil Nadu) and after observing materials, analysis/assessment of the manufacturing process and testing performance efficiency, it appears that the above mentioned manufacturing shall reduce the emission of pollutants PM2.5 at least by 25-30 per cent (improved and green fireworks/green firecrackers) and it will be a win-win situation in the interest of all stake holders in the public interest,” it said.
Advocate Gopal Shankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, however, objected the new composition and told the top court that the Cnetre had earlier opposed using Barium in crackers but the minutes of meeting said that Barium Nitrate and Potassium Nitrate chemicals would be used in the new formulation. He pleaded the court to seek response form the Centre on the issue.
The bench, thereafter, adjourned the hearing to March 12 and asked the Centre to file its response on whether it agreed to the chemical composition of green crackers.
Before last Diwali, the apex court had on October 23 banned manufacturing of polluting firecrackers and ruled that only green crackers with reduced emission will be be allowed to be sold in the country in order to control the pollution level. The court passed the order after the Centre had suggested that emission level in crackers could be reduced by changing the chemical composition and termed it green crackers. The court had given the task to government agency Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) “to review the chemical composition of fireworks, particularly reducing Aluminum content, and submit its report”.