Have Delhi Ministers Welcomed the Supreme Court's Nod to ‘Green Diwali’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Green firecrackers will be allowed in Delhi from October 18 to 21.
- The sale is restricted to licensed vendors.
- Only eco-friendly crackers with QR codes are permitted.
- The use of firecrackers is restricted to 6 PM to 10 PM.
- The Supreme Court's decision aims to balance tradition with environmental concerns.
New Delhi, Oct 15 (NationPress) The Delhi Government expressed its appreciation on Wednesday for the Supreme Court's approval of the sale and use of green firecrackers in the capital and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR). Several ministers, reacting to the relaxation of firecracker regulations, congratulated the residents and expressed gratitude to the Apex Court for permitting a 'green Diwali' in the city.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court authorized the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from October 18 to 21. The decision came from a bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, following the Delhi Government's request to permit the use of certified green firecrackers for Diwali celebrations.
In light of this decision, several ministers from the Delhi government welcomed the ruling while criticizing the previous Kejriwal administration for spreading the 'false' notion that firecracker use was a major contributor to the city’s poor air quality.
BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva remarked, “I welcome the ruling that permits green crackers during Diwali. The BJP has continuously supported the celebration of Diwali with crackers. Previously, during Arvind Kejriwal’s government, misleading information was presented to the court, resulting in a total ban on crackers. Now, we have a government that upholds Sanatan Dharma. I believe pollution is caused by various factors, not just a single day.”
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra stated, “This is a positive move. We owe our deepest thanks to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for advocating for the sentiments of Delhi’s citizens before the Supreme Court. This time, permission has been granted for green crackers, something the Kejriwal government had intentionally obstructed.”
Minister Parvesh Verma congratulated all residents of Delhi for electing a government that delivers on its promises. “Our Chief Minister had pledged a traditional Diwali celebration, and the Supreme Court has honored these feelings,” he added.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa noted that the Supreme Court has stipulated that firecrackers can be used in Delhi from October 18 to 21, between 6 PM and 10 PM, with only eco-friendly crackers allowed. Meetings will be organized to ensure compliance. I thank the Delhi Chief Minister and the Supreme Court for this ruling.”
The CJI B.R. Gavai-led Bench, in addition to permitting green crackers during Diwali, mandated the establishment of patrolling teams to conduct regular inspections, ensuring that only green crackers with QR codes are sold.
The use of green firecrackers will be restricted from 6 PM to 10 PM, as specified by the Supreme Court order.
The court also prohibited e-commerce platforms from selling firecrackers.
Last week, the Supreme Court had reserved its decision and indicated a temporary lift on restrictions for the festivities, stating, “For now, we will allow the ban to be lifted during Diwali.”
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the apex court of several precautions, including that sales would only occur through licensed vendors and that only authorized manufacturers would be permitted to sell.