Question : Green Crackers

(a) the policy of the Government in matters of control/regulation of production and burning of fire crackers in the country along with the basis for defining ‘green cracker’;
(b) whether burning of such green crackers do not affect the environment and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that fire cracker production units functioning in the country will be severely crippled by the banning of non-green crackers;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken to address the concerns of the fire-cracker production industry in the country; and
(e) whether the Government has taken note of the incidents of import of hazardous chemicals like pet-coke, e-waste materials etc. into the country, if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Government’s policy is aimed to regulate production and burning of fire crackers in the country based on latest scientific evidence. The manufacture, sale or use of fire-crackers exceeding the noise level as prescribed in the Noise Rules, 2000is prohibited and is required to comply with safety regulations prescribed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). Government has taken serious note of the issue of pollution from fire crackers and has undertaken efforts towards development of eco-friendly firecrackers or green firecrackers through the National Expert Committee.

(b) According to Central Pollution Control Board, burning of such green crackers has potential of reducing pollution by 20-45% with alternative chemicals and green oxidants and control pollution from toxic elements like Barium, Aluminium and Iron due to firecrackers.

(c) & (d)Government has taken note of the representations of fire crackers associations regarding closing down of fireworks industries and loss of livelihood of workers due to banning of non-green firecrackers. The matter is sub-judice in the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 728 of 2015 in the matter of Arjun Gopal & Others vs. Union of India & Others.
(e) The Government has taken note of the incidents of import of hazardous chemicals like pet-coke, e-waste materials etc. into the country. Government has amended the import policy in compliance with the Order dated 9th October, 2018 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13029 of 1985 with regard to import of pet coke in the country. Also, import of e-waste is prohibited in the country as per sub rule 12(6) of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

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