On Wednesday, India’s Supreme Court allowed the use of certain firecrackers in New Delhi during Diwali, softening a previous total ban despite the capital’s ongoing winter air pollution issues.
The court approved the limited use of “green firecrackers,” which are designed by federal research bodies to emit fewer pollutants, permitting them from Saturday to Tuesday.
During Diwali, a major Hindu festival of lights, the widespread use of firecrackers exacerbates Delhi’s already severe pollution levels.
Delhi, home to about 30 million residents, consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capitals, with dense smog blanketing the city every winter.
During peak pollution times, PM2.5 levels—tiny particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs—often soar to over 60 times the World Health Organization’s advised daily limit.
In previous years, the Diwali firecracker ban has largely been ignored.
To balance cultural traditions with pressing environmental issues, the court mandated that only licensed manufacturers can produce approved “green” firecrackers.
Sales will be restricted to specific outlets, and each product will feature a QR code detailing its chemical makeup.
Online sales continue to be prohibited.
Police are tasked with forming patrols to enforce compliance, while pollution control agencies are directed to monitor and report air quality during the festivities.
Environmentalists have previously questioned the true effectiveness of these less-polluting firecrackers, suggesting they still pose serious health and environmental threats.
On Wednesday, PM2.5 levels reached 75 on the air quality index, triple the WHO’s daily recommended maximum, according to global monitoring agency IQAir.
