Green Diwali, clean Diwali … With concerns over air pollution rising due to the rising AQI (Air Quality Index), we are all hearing a lot about green crackers these days. With the Chandigarh Administration giving a go-ahead to the use of green crackers on Diwali and Gurpurab, let us find out how how are they different from our traditional conventional crackers.
What are green crackers?
Green crackers are the crackers that emit pollutants at a 30% lesser rate than their conventional counterparts. They are specially developed by the National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a subsidiary of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Manufacturers need to sign a deal with the CSIR to make fireworks using the green cracker formulation. Only the manufacturers who have signed a deal with CSIR are allowed to manufacture these crackers.
The components and elements required for creating a green cracker are not easily available for everyone which may be a reason for many manufacturers to not take it up.
However, almost 70% of India’s crackers are manufactured in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, which continues to be the leading supplier of green crackers.
-The raw materials used in these crackers are less polluting. Their chemical formulation ensures that the particle emission into the atmosphere is reduced by suppressing the dust. These crackers release water vapour or air as a dust suppressant and for diluting the gaseous emissions.
– Regular crackers emit about 160 decibels of sound whereas green crackers’ emission rate is limited to 110-125 decibels.
-To differentiate green crackers from traditional ones, a green logo and Quick Response (QR) have been developed.
-Green crackers also have polluting chemicals like aluminium, barium, potassium nitrate, and carbon, but the quantity is so reduced that the emission is about 30 pc. Some of the green crackers do not use these chemicals at all. But they do not contain barium nitrate which is one of the most hazardous elements in traditional firecrackers.
| Place | Landmark |
|---|---|
| Sector 43 | Sabji mandi ground and Dushera ground |
| Sector 46 | Near Ramlila Dasehra ground |
| Sector 33C | Open space |
| Sector37 C | Adjoining Mandir |
| Sector 24 | Dasehra ground |
| Sector 29 | Sabji mandi |
| Ram Darbar | Car bazaar open ground |
| Manimajra | Open ground, Near housing board |
| Sector 20 | Masjid ground |
| Sector 49 | Near Ryan Int’l School |
| Sector 48 | In front of Kendriya Vihar Society |
| Sector 45 D | Mandi ground |
| Sector 28 | Behind nanaksar gurdwara |
No ‘laris’ allowed
Sale and use of joined fire crackers , even if they fall in green cracker category have been banned.
No online selling
No e-commerce website is allowed to accept online orders within UT jurisdiction. The SHO of the area will be held liable.
Dates for purchase of crackers Oct 22, 23, 24 from 10 am to 7:30 pm
Timings for bursting of crackers 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Gurupurab (from 4.00 am to 5.00 am and 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm)
Air quality satisfactory last Diwali
As per the detail report on Air Quality Index received from the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, the air quality during the Diwali month in the year 2020 and 2021was found to be moderate/satisfactory, therefore the Chandigarh Administration has allowed the use of green crackers in the city.
UT, MC to spend Rs 18 lakh to illuminate Chandigarh
• 8 govt buildings to be decorated
• Punjab Raj Bhawan
• UT Secreteriat, Sector 9
• Capitol Complex
• DC office Sector 17
• UT guest houses in Sector 6 and 18
• MC building in Sector 17
• Mayor’s house sector 24
• 7 round-abouts to be decorated
