(a) whether the Government has taken steps to stop manufacturing/import and sale of harmful fire-crackers and control pollution levels;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any policy/ guidelines to regulate the use of harmful chemicals/metals in the manufacturing of fire-crackers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) to (d) Manufacturing and sale of harmful fire-crackers come under the purview of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur under the Explosives Act 2008. The PESO has come out with the chemical formulae for 4 types of commonly used sound producing crackers namely Atom bomb, Chinese crackers, maroons and Garland crackers specifying the proportion/composition as well as maximum permissible weight of every chemical used in the manufacture of said fire crackers. It has also directed that every manufacturer shall mention the details of chemical content on the box of each fire cracker vide its order dated 7th March, 2008. Import of fireworks requires license /authorization from the Director General of Foreign Trade. Further, the Government has notified noise standards for fire-crackers under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 to control pollution levels from fire-crackers. The steps taken to control pollution levels inter alia include advisories for noise monitoring on the occasion of Diwali; prohibition of the use of fireworks between 10.00 p.m. and 06.00 a.m.; publicity regarding the ill effects of fire-crackers and awareness programme to avoid bursting of fire-crackers; and issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under section 18 (1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
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