Current Affairs 2022: Everything you need to know about Green Crackers
By Dinesh
Green Crackers were in news recently. Read here in detail about the Green Crackers and their relevance in India.
Recently, states like Odisha, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, and Assam have put some ban or some kind of restriction on the use of firecrackers. These states have further issued orders encouraging the use of Green Crackers.
Green Cracker is a type of crackers/fireworks which are environment friendly and can reduce the air pollution made by traditional firecrackers.
Such types of crackers include flower pots, pencils, sparklers, maroons, bombs, and chakkar. Such types of crackers have been developed by the National Environmental and Engineering Institute (also known as NEERI), a CSIR lab.
The Composition of Green Crackers is different from traditional crackers. Green Crackers do not use harmful polluting chemicals like arsenic, lithium, barium, sulphur nitrates, lead, magnesium, etc. Thus, Green Crackers are nothing but low-emission fireworks. They are made from materials that are dust suppressants. Green crackers also include Zeolite which is an absorbent and highly oxidized material. It is less toxic and less harmful.
Why are green crackers needed?
These green crackers are needed to control the increasing air pollution. As such crackers are eco-friendly and contain a composition that is less harmful to the environment.
It is also a result of legal battles which were pending in courts by many individuals and organizations . Supreme Court allowed CSIR to manufacture green crackers in bulk and ensure their selling in the market.
Green crackers are required to improve the current ecological situation and thus, they have become a necessity for our country. Now, Indian states need to adapt to the selling of these fireworks. Air pollution and its consequences like global warming are a threat to the environment and human development. It is a much bigger issue in present and upcoming times. It is caused mainly by mining, construction, transportation, industrial pollution, etc. Even firecrackers on Diwali are some of the major events responsible for air pollution. Thus, Green Cracker can be a great tool to mitigate air pollution.
Composition of traditional firecrackers
A traditional firecracker has fuel(charcoal, Thermite, etc), Oxidizing agent(nitrates, chlorates), a reducing agent(element like sulphur), regulators, colouring agents(strontium, sodium salt, barium salt, calcium salt, copper salts), binders. These 6 elements are the primary components of a firecracker.
Advantages of Green Crackers
The introduction of these green crackers in India will majorly positively affect the quality of air. Green crackers can also help in the reduction of accidents that occur due to traditional firecrackers.
The major advantages of using Green Crackers are as follow-
- Green Cracker produce less noise pollution
- Green Crackers produce less air pollution(the sound level of 110-125)
- They do not release poisonous and harmful chemicals
- Fewer fire-related accidents
- Safe for pet animals
- Less garbage
- Smog free
Popular types of Green Crackers
In India, green crackers have been given three different names. These three types of green crackers are as follow-
SWAS- Safe Water Releaser
This type of green crackers releases water vapour into the air which will suppress the release of dust. It will not contain potassium nitrate and sulphur.
STAR – Safe Thermite Cracker
It creates less particulate dust matter, less sound intensity, and do not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur
SAFAL- Safe minimal aluminium
Such type of green crackers has minimum usage of aluminium and reduced sound emission,
Current Scenario in India
- Delhi Pollution Control Committee has completely banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi till January 2022.
- Recently, the eastern state of Assam has allowed the use of green crack only for a limited time frame during Diwali and Chhath puja.
- Karnataka state has allowed the sale and bursting of only green crackers.
- In order, the Punjab government has made a declaration to allow the selling and bursting of green crackers in upcoming festivals
- The Haryana government has recently notified a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in 14 districts.
- Rajasthan government has earlier banned the use of crackers but has now allowed the use of green crackers with some restrictions
- The Odisha government has allowed the sale and use of green crackers as per directions and regulations set by the Supreme Court.
In the latest judgement, the Supreme Court has overturned the Calcutta High Court's order to ban firecrackers and instead allowed green Crackers with certain regulations.
Key points to consider
- Green Cracker is an invention by the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute.
- The approval of these crackers was granted by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization(PESO)
- Green Crackers are 30% to 35% less polluting compared to ordinary or traditional firecrackers.
- One can buy green crackers at any government registered shop or online
- A system of quick response coding has been developed to differentiate green crackers from the traditional ones
- Three types of green crackers available in India are SWAS, STAR, and SAFAL.
- Presently, an agreement has been signed with around 230 companies for manufacturing and selling these in the market.
- Sivakasi region of Tamil Nadu is one of the major hubs of cracker manufacturing industries(around 70% of total firecracker manufacturing)
- PESO was established in 1998 as a nodal agency for regulating the safety of substances such as explosives.
- CSIR –NEERI is one of the laboratories of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology having 38 national laboratories in various areas of science and technology.
- Manufacturers need to sign a deal with the CSIR to make fireworks using the green cracker formulation.
Green crackers too in many cases use polluting chemicals like potassium nitrates and carbon but the quantity is less and thus, the impact on the environment is also less. In some green crackers, harmful chemicals may be absent.
Thus, “Green Crackers” are the need and demand of the time to improve air quality and celebrate in an eco-friendly way.
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About the Author:
Dinesh is a lawyer and business law writer; loves to read History and do gardening. He has over one year of experience in content writing.
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