Blanket Ban on Green Crackers Has Failed, Delhi Govt. to Tell Supreme Court

Delhi Pushes SC to Allow Regulated Use of Green Firecrackers on Diwali

New Delhi: The long-standing blanket ban on firecrackers, including green crackers, in the national capital has failed to deliver the expected results, the Delhi government is likely to tell the Supreme Court in an upcoming hearing on Wednesday. Despite repeated restrictions, violations continue to take place every year around Diwali, raising serious concerns over both enforcement challenges and the effectiveness of the existing policy.

In recent years, the Supreme Court and the Delhi government have imposed a complete prohibition on all firecrackers to combat the city’s toxic post-Diwali air pollution. Green firecrackers introduced earlier as an eco-friendlier alternative were also banned in Delhi to ensure stricter pollution control. However, real-time monitoring gaps, weak enforcement mechanisms, and lack of viable alternatives have made it difficult to fully implement the ban.

“A complete ban on firecrackers has not achieved the desired results. Violations have persisted, often due to the absence of alternatives and enforcement challenges,” a senior official said.

Govt. Pushes for Controlled, Regulated Use

The Delhi government’s new proposal marks a shift from an absolute ban to regulated and time-bound permission for the use of certified green crackers. The idea, officials say, is to balance public health, religious sentiments, and economic interests while ensuring pollution does not spiral out of control

Under the proposed plan, the government will introduce a multi-layered enforcement and monitoring mechanism that includes:

• Deployment of Delhi Police, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Revenue Department, and local bodies to prevent the sale and use of non-compliant crackers.
• Establishment of a dedicated control room during the festive period to act on complaints in real time.
• Promotion of reporting through platforms such as the Sameer App, Green Delhi App, and other official channels.
• Launching a public awareness campaign to educate people on permitted crackers, their environmental impact, and reporting mechanisms.

No Objection” to Certified Green Crackers

 The Delhi government has clarified that it has no objection to the use of certified green firecrackers, provided they are manufactured by authorised entities and duly certified by competent authorities. Officials argue that limited, regulated use can be more effective than a blanket ban, which has proven hard to enforce.

“Diwali is a festival deeply rooted in cultural and religious sentiments. Allowing the use of certified green crackers, with strict monitoring, respects these sentiments while safeguarding public health,” an official noted.

Supreme Court Hearing on Wednesday

The matter will now be considered by the Supreme Court, which will examine whether Delhi can be permitted to allow the bursting of certified green firecrackers on Diwali under strict regulatory conditions. The government has assured the apex court of full cooperation with both the SC and the Union government in implementing any directions issued. 

This development comes amid increasing pressure to adopt practical solutions to tackle Delhi’s annual winter pollution crisis without completely disregarding public sentiment and economic concerns of manufacturers engaged in green cracker production.