What Are ‘Green Firecrackers’? Vendors Left Bewildered Following Supreme Court’s Cracker Verdict

The Apex Court on Tuesday (October 23) passed an order permitting citizens to celebrate Diwali with crackers which are low on smoke emissions and produce less sound. The decision has spread confusion about the division of firecrackers into categories of “Green Firecrackers” and others.

Eighty per cent of the inventory held by vendors features firecrackers which do not fall under the list “green” or acceptable crackers, said Vendors in Delhi’s Sadar Bazar who have been patiently waiting for the directions of the Supreme Court. Vendors also had to come up with ways to dispose off loud and smoke emitting firecrackers in the light of the verdict.

Since the green firecrackers are expensive, not many vendors have them in stock. "Very few people specifically ask for them", said a vendor adding that disposing of the stock is not something they have a lot of confidence in this year, as reported by The New Indian Express.

Owing to the lack of disclaimers on the packaging, it is challenging to differentiate between green and otherwise and makes it extremely difficult for both the consumers and vendors. ‘Ladis’ which is a string of bombs has been banned from this year. The verdict aligns with the Apex Court’s mission to bring down air pollution levels in Delhi which ranges from very poor to hazardous.