SC permits green crackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali; blanket ban kicks in from Nov 9

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8, between 6 am and 7 am, and 8 pm and 10 pm.The top court said the complete ban on firecrackers would come into effect from November 9.The bench of MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale also reiterated that use of firecrackers with Barium and those not approved by CSIR-NEERI as green crackers shall not be permitted.The top court also directed that no firecrackers shall be burst within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones.

“These areas, along with educational institutions, will be declared ‘No-Cracker Zones’ and appropriately marked and publicised,” the top court said.The Supreme Court was hearing two petitions, including a suo motu case on air pollution in the National Capital Region covering firecrackers, stubble burning and solid waste management. The other petition seeks a ban on the manufacture of firecrackers.