Green crackers by next Diwali?

Scientists have been asked to develop, by next year, zero-pollution firecrackers that do not cause health hazards so that everyone can celebrate Diwali without any environmental damage, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

With Diwali, when the quantum of toxic pollutants spikes fourfold, only days away, the Supreme Court on October 9 banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1. Diwali falls on October 19. On Friday, the court clarified that crackers can be burst, but only till 11 pm, a move that looks at preventing a repeat of last year's unprecedented pollution crisis in Delhi.

Flagging off a 'Run for Clean Air' campaign, Harsh Vardhan told a gathering of students that the ill-effects of pollution cause maximum problems to children. On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld its ban and lamented that it was given a communal colour by some.

The minister also administered a pledge to promote clean air — "Let us together pledge for a New India... Let us together pledge towards a Clean India... Let us together pledge towards a casteism-free India".

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said 'swachhta' (cleanliness) has to be a collective endeavour. "The legacy that we leave behind in terms of clean air is very important," he said.

(With agency inputs)