Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said her government will seek Supreme Court’s nod for certified green firecrackers this Diwali. She assured strict compliance with pollution control norms while respecting people’s festive sentiments.
New Delhi: The Delhi government has decided to move the Supreme Court to ask for permission to use certified green firecrackers during Diwali. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made this announcement on Monday, saying that this step is being taken to balance people’s emotions with the need to protect the environment.
Gupta said that Diwali is a festival of great cultural and religious value for millions of people in Delhi. According to her, her government “respects the sentiments of the people” while staying focused on reducing pollution levels in the city.
In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), it was said,
“The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the government’s commitment to pollution control while honouring traditional practices.”
Rekha Gupta explained that people of Delhi celebrate Diwali with “great enthusiasm, joy and excitement.” She added that the festival is not only a religious celebration but also represents the
“economic and cultural heartbeat of the city.”
The CMO further added,
“The chief minister stated that the government will now request the Supreme Court to allow the use of certified green firecrackers during Diwali and emphasised that the government remains deeply committed to environmental protection and pollution control. The government will assure the Supreme Court that all its guidelines and standards will be strictly followed.”
At present, the Supreme Court in its order dated September 26 allowed certified manufacturers to produce green firecrackers but did not permit their sale in Delhi-NCR without prior approval of the court.
These firecrackers must be cleared by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
Officials from the Delhi government said they will tell the Supreme Court that they have no objection to the use of green firecrackers made by authorised manufacturers. They may also seek approval for only limited and time-bound use of such firecrackers during Diwali.
To make sure the rules are followed, enforcement will be carried out jointly by Delhi Police, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and local authorities. A special control room will also be set up to receive and handle complaints from the public.
Experts highlight that green firecrackers are less harmful as they release around 30 percent fewer pollutants compared to traditional firecrackers. They also contain reduced amounts of dangerous chemicals such as barium nitrate.
Officials pointed out that in the past years, blanket bans on firecrackers did not work as expected. Despite the restrictions, violations continued as enforcing a complete ban proved to be very difficult.
The chief minister has also said that the government will launch a public awareness campaign to inform people about which firecrackers are allowed and how they can report violations.
The blanket ban on firecrackers was first introduced after the Supreme Court’s 2017 order which recognised firecrackers as a major reason for air pollution. Following that order, CSIR-NEERI developed “green crackers” in 2018 as a cleaner option.
The AAP government, which was in power earlier, had imposed a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi, and last year this ban was extended until January 1, 2025.
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