New Delhi, Oct 15 (NationPress) The Supreme Court has granted permission for the limited sale and usage of green crackers in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) during the upcoming Diwali celebrations. This decision comes with stringent regulations aimed at overseeing the sale, usage, and monitoring of fireworks, ensuring that the pollution issues experienced in past years do not recur.

The ruling, delivered by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, emphasized that "commercial interests and the festive atmosphere should not overshadow the critical need to protect our environment and public health." The court has allowed the sale of NEERI-approved green crackers from October 18 to October 20.

However, the court has restricted the timing for bursting these crackers to 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both days surrounding Diwali.

The Supreme Court stated, "The use of firecrackers is limited to designated hours on the two days, specifically the day before and on Diwali itself." Furthermore, they clarified that this relaxation is on a test case basis and any future considerations will be based on air quality assessments conducted after Diwali.

In establishing a robust enforcement system, the Supreme Court mandated that only licensed vendors may sell approved crackers, which must feature QR codes provided by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

The court ordered the police, in collaboration with local administrations, to form monitoring teams to oversee approved sales locations. These teams are to familiarize themselves with the green cracker offerings listed on the NEERI website, including registrations and QR codes issued to manufacturers.

Furthermore, the patrol teams are tasked with ensuring that only authorized products are sold and are required to take random samples for testing, which will be forwarded to PESO. Any violations will result in penalties for manufacturers or sellers of prohibited items, which will also lead to the cancellation of their licenses.

Additionally, the court has directed that any crackers containing barium or produced outside the NCR without the necessary licenses will be seized immediately.

There will be no sale or purchase of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms; any such transactions will be intercepted and the products confiscated, as per the Supreme Court's directive.

To evaluate the effects of this limited relaxation, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards are instructed to monitor air, water, and soil quality from October 14 to October 25, with a report to be submitted to the Supreme Court.

The case will be revisited in three weeks for further instructions. The CJI Gavai-led Bench has also ordered the apex court registry to communicate its orders to the District Collectors across all NCR districts.