Delhi woke up to a grey morning as an apocalyptic smog blotted out the sun from the sky and smudged landmarks from view with air quality inching closer to "emergency" levels on Tuesday. Air quality monitoring stations at Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Pusa, Rohini, Patparganj, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Najafgarh, Sri Aurobindo Marg and Okhla Phase 2 maxed out - as air quality indexes hit the 500 mark, <keyword id="67999" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Pollution-Control-Board">Central Pollution Control Board</keyword> data showed. The smog reduced the visibility to merely 300 meters in the morning affecting traffic, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Delhi recorded an AQI of 487 at 9 am, which falls in the "severe" category. The neighbouring cities of Faridabad (474), Ghaziabad (476), Noida (490), Greater Noida (467), and Gurugram (469) also recorded "severe" air quality. This is the sixth "severe" air day on the trot in Delhi. The city witnessed seven "severe" air days in November last year. The levels of PM2.5 - finer particles which can even enter the bloodstream - in Delhi-NCR were 605 g/m3 at 8 am - around ten times the safe limit of 60 g/m3. PM10 levels stood at 777 microgram per cubic meter (g/m3) at 8 am, the highest since November June 14, 2018, when it surged to 847 g/m3, according to CPCB data. PM10 levels below 100 g/m3 are considered safe in India. If PM2.5 and PM10 levels are more than 300 g/m3 and 500 g/m3 for over 48 hours, emergency measures such ban on construction activities, entry of trucks and car rationing scheme can be implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi-NCR notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2017. Government agencies and experts said calm wind speeds were exacerbating the effect of stubble burning and a "quick recovery" is not possible unless the number of farm fires reduces drastically. V K Soni, the head of the IMD's environment research centre, said a major improvement in Delhi-NCR's air quality was highly unlikely in the coming days. "The air quality is likely to be recorded in the upper end of the ''very poor'' category on Diwali if we discount firecrackers emissions. If people burst crackers, pollution levels can increase to 'severe'' to 'severe plus' category (emergency)," he said. <keyword id="2462566" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National-Green-Tribunal">The National Green Tribunal</keyword> on Monday imposed a total ban on sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight, saying "celebration by crackers is for happiness and not to celebrate deaths and diseases". The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, said, "Low dispersion condition continues in Delhi along with high fire-related intrusion. This has led to the accumulation of pollutants near the surface." "No quick recovery is expected unless a drastic reduction in fire counts takes place," it said. SAFAR said the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution was 38 percent on Monday. According to the IMD, Delhi recorded calm winds and a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning. Calm winds and low temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground, while favourable wind speed helps in their dispersion. There was moderate fog in the morning which led to smog. It reduced visibility to 300 meters at the Safdarjung and Palam weather stations, an IMD official said. The newly-constituted Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas on Monday stressed the need to enforce existing laws, directions and SOPs to minimise air pollution on an emergency basis. It is expected to review the situation on Tuesday. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said action will be taken against those not complying with the ban on firecrackers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act which included a jail term of up to six years. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-is-90-effective-in-preventing-coronavirus-in-those-who-havent-been-infected-ever-before/articleshow/79130097.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective in preventing coronavirus in those who haven’t been infected ever before, shows data from latest trials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mm-q2-earnings-tomorrow-profit-likely-to-fall-19-percent-but-tractor-sales-may-help-revenue/articleshow/79129620.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Strong tractor sales may cushion M&amp;M’s revenue but profit is likely to remain under pressure, say analysts</a>

Delhi-NCR's air quality on brink of "emergency" after city records AQI of 487 — falling in the 'severe' category for the sixth consecutive day

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has imposed a ban on bursting pollution causing fireworks during <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword> in the country’s national capital, New Delhi. </li><li>Meanline, the other cities and states in the country have no such restrictions and can go about bursting normal fireworks. </li><li>If people in New Delhi want to burst ‘normal’ fireworks during the festive season, they will have to travel between 140kms to 200kms out of the city. </li></ul>India’s top court has cracked down on fireworks ahead of Diwali, one of India’s biggest Hindu festivals. While the Supreme Court has the banned the manufacturing and sale of all ‘pollution causing’ fireworks in New Delhi in face of deteriorating air quality, other states and cities in Indian can still indulge in normal fireworks. That being said, the Supreme Court has issued an alternative where people in New Delhi and its surrounding areas can still burst <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-are-green-crackers-5415113/">‘green fireworks’</a>, but only between the hours of 8PM and 10PM. The court also mentioned that green firecrackers would eventually supersede the other kinds with the increase in their manufacturing from next year onwards. It’s not that other states aren’t considering more strict regulations on the bursting of fireworks during the festive season, but they are still allowed to call on their previous stock of fireworks, green or otherwise <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/supreme-court-only-green-crackers-to-be-used-in-delhi-ncr-5428096/">according to</a> Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan. But the ban on the online sale of fireworks through e-commerce portals like Amazon and Flipkart applies across the nation. In order to ensure effective implementation, the Supreme Court has also threatened to drag online retailers to court if they don’t abide by the issued guidelines. The rest of India The issue with the Supreme Court’s directive is that not everyone around India celebrates Diwali at the <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/diwali-crackers-bursting-time-north-south-india-supreme-court/story/286530.html">same time</a>. While northern states celebrate Diwali at night, southern states prefer to celebrate it in the morning. Meanwhile most states in the east celebrate Diwali a before the actual ‘designated’ day of the festival. States like Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-modifies-firecracker-order-tamil-nadu-puducherry-can-fix-timing-but-cannot-exceed-2-hours-5425063/">permitted</a> the use of fireworks between the hours of 4 AM to 5 AM in the morning and 9 PM to 10 PM during the night. Meanwhile, in the city of Mumbai, shopkeepers are <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/after-supreme-court-order-firecracker-retailers-stare-at-losses-this-diwali-stock-up-other-items-in-mumbai-5428097/">diversifying</a> the products they offer to include more ‘decorative fireworks’ and those approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The firework ban legally covers areas that are nearly <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/firecracker-ban-in-delhi-where-all-ban-is-applicable-to-purchase-crackers-legally-this-is-how-far-you-will-have-to-go-answer-will-break-your-heart/888749/">140 kms to 200 kms</a> from the eastern and the southern borders of Delhi spreading out over 21 districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. About <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/many-people-now-want-curbs-on-firecrackers-in-their-cities-says-assocham/article9908815.ece">35%</a> of the citizens responded positively towards the ban of polluted firecrackers considering the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/clean-air-week-india-to-deploy-emergency-measures-for-controlling-air-pollution/articleshow/66446663.cms"> worsening air pollution</a> situation. However, a lot of people still believe that the ban will not make much of a difference to the air quality. Majority of people are now gearing up for muted celebrations this Diwali, though the effectiveness is yet to be seen. Government initiatives have largely impacted the fireworks industry in India and it has seen a degradation of nearly 40% over the last five years.

The rest of India can burst normal fireworks, but its national capital is restricted to staying ‘green’

Arumugam Chinnaswamy set up his makeshift booth selling firecrackers in a Chennai neighbourhood a week ahead of <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword>, the Hindu festival of lights, with great expectations of doing a brisk trade. Yet a week later, he has been forced to pack up more than half his stock in the hope he’ll have better luck next year. “Four years ago, I sold firecrackers worth 800,000 rupees (US$11,288) on the eve of Diwali alone. This year, the sales have not even been a quarter of that,” said Chinnaswamy, 65, painting a grim picture that will be recognised by many in the Indian fireworks industry. <a href="https://hp.teads.com/?utm_source=inread&amp;utm_medium=credits&amp;utm_campaign=invented%20by%20teads" target="_blank"></a> Chinnaswamy buys his firecrackers in Sivakasi, an industrial town in the southern Indian state of <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> that produces more than 90 per cent of the country’s fireworks. Sivakasi’s dry climate has helped to make it the firework capital of <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/india" class="link-text">India</a> and many production facilities in the town have been in the business for close to a century. For the most part, the industry has resisted mechanisation and still deals in handmade products. Its 1,100-plus manufacturing units provide jobs for 800,000 mostly uneducated workers and its diligent labour force have earned the town the nickname of ‘Little <keyword id="6355311" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="japan">Japan</keyword>’. But this reputation is under threat, struggling under the weight of an anti-pollution campaign, regulatory uncertainty and the arrival of cheap black-market Chinese imports. Irregular monsoons and a slowdown-induced cash crunch have not helped matters either. Industry figures estimate the Diwali sales of India’s 80 billion-rupee firecracker industry took a 30 per cent drop this year. A TOXIC PROBLEM With pollution in Indian cities among the worst in the world, the government has come under pressure to do something about the nation’s toxic air – a problem that becomes more acute during Diwali due to the toxic fumes emitted when celebratory fireworks are set off. This Diwali, for instance, many areas in New Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 999, the highest possible reading (the recommended limit is 60). That makes the fireworks industry seem like an easy target when it comes to meeting government air quality targets. Trouble began brewing in October last year when the Supreme Court banned the manufacture of traditional fireworks containing barium nitrate, a chief polluter. That decision put a rocket under the industry, as barium nitrate is cheap and is used in about 75 per cent of all firecrackers in India. Factories in Sivakasi responded with a four-month shutdown protest that decimated annual production levels by up to a third. Apparently realising it had overstepped the mark – and that enforcing the Supreme Court regulations would be next to impossible – the government stepped in to rescue the industry, offering its assistance in the manufacture of environment-friendly crackers containing fewer pollutants, but it was too little, too late. “The Supreme Court verdict was simply Delhi-centric with the vague idea of [cracking down on] urban pollution. It lacked any on-the-ground knowledge of the fireworks industry,” said Tamil Selvan, president of the Indian Fireworks Association, which represents more than 200 medium and large manufacturers. “Fireworks are low-hanging fruit for the anti-pollution drive as the industry is unorganised. Could the government or judiciary place a similar blanket ban on more pollution-causing industries like automobiles, plastics or tobacco?” asked Selvan. CHINESE COMPETITION The industry has also been hit by a flood of cheap Chinese firecrackers that are smuggled into the country on the black market. In September, the country’s federal anti-smuggling agency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, cautioned various government departments that huge quantities of Chinese-produced firecrackers had reached Indian soil in the lead up to Diwali. But industry sources complain they have seen little action from the government to combat the problem. Legally, Indian manufacturers can neither import nor export firecrackers. The Indian firecracker industry is the second-largest in the world after <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>’s. Raja Chandrashekar, chief of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Fireworks Traders, a lobbying body, said low-end Indian-manufactured firecrackers such as roll caps and dot caps – popular among children – had struggled to compete with Chinese-made pop pops and throw bombs. “Despite our repeated complaints to government bodies, Chinese firecrackers find a way into India, particularly in the northern parts. This is severely affecting our business,” said Chandrashekar. While more Chinese fireworks might be entering India, the effect has been to undermine the industry, resulting in fewer sales overall. FIZZLING OUT? The Sivakasi fireworks industry faces other problems, too. Not least among these is the use of child labour, which had been rampant until a government crackdown a few years ago, and the practice of some factories to operate without proper licences and with questionable safety standards. But despite the darker aspects of the industry, its role goes beyond merely helping Diwali celebrations go with a bang every year. “The livelihoods of over five million people who are indirectly involved in the business, in areas such as trade and transport, depend on the survival of the industry,” said Chandrashekar. That survival looks increasingly in question. Dull sales of fireworks have been reported in major cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, though exact numbers can be hard to come by due to the unregulated nature of the industry and unreliable numbers shared by manufacturers. So great has the resultant outcry been that some cynics even wonder whether the industry is struggling as much as it claims or whether it is part of a ploy by manufacturers to gain more government concessions and avoid any further crackdown. “These firecracker manufacturers lie through their teeth about the Diwali sales for self-serving motives such as tax avoidance. The overall business is healthy,” said Vijay Kumar, editor of the Sivakasi-based monthly magazine Pyro India News. “Though there was a 30-40 per cent shortage in annual production, all the manufactured products have been sold this year. No large stockpile is left with any manufacturer.” Still, regardless of the manufacturers’ motives, the result of the industry’s struggles has been that street sellers like Chinnaswamy have fewer fireworks to sell – and they are struggling even to sell those. Chinnaswamy says people are confused about the government’s anti-pollution drive and about what firecrackers are now legal and this has discouraged them from buying. Despite the government’s effort to promote “green crackers” he says these are too hard to come by to be a ready solution, at least for this year. “There was no clarity on what type of firecrackers, whether green crackers or otherwise, can be set off and at what time of the day. Many consumers even asked me whether or not the conventional firecrackers are totally banned while there was much misinformation floating about on social media,” said Chinnaswamy. Shaking his head, all he can do is hope that next year his Diwali goes with more of a bang.

The explosive truth about the link between Chinese fireworks and India’s dim Diwali

The world is becoming more conscious of the environmental pollution due to different kinds of human activity. Amidst the growing efforts in every sector to move towards eco-friendly alternatives, <keyword id="810932" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eco-friendly-crackers">eco-friendly crackers</keyword> mark a new way of celebrating Diwali with less impact on the environment. <keyword id="6123753" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-crackers">Green crackers</keyword> as they are called, eco-friendly <keyword id="32601" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Crackers">crackers</keyword> are a new initiative by the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). These crackers feature different formulations than the present crackers and fireworks you will see around in the market. The goal of developing green crackers is to reduce pollution and minimize the health risks. What are green crackers? The regular firecrackers pose high degree of pollution and health risks. The green crackers or eco-friendly crackers are manufactured from alternative raw materials to leave lesser impact on the environment and pose lesser health risks. News about green crackers In a recent press meet held on October 5, 2019 in New Delhi, the Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan explained about the green crackers and showed some recently developed green crackers to the media persons like flower pots, pencils, sparklers and chakkar. Talking on the green crackers, the minister said the environmental friendly crackers will help maintain the vibrant tradition of celebrations besides also providing livelihood to millions of homes that are solely dependent on the manufacture and sale of fireworks. In a tweet, the minister said, “These will reduce the dust &amp; smoke associated with crackers by 30% and also reduce sulfur oxide &amp; nitrous oxide emissions by 20%”. Manufacture of green crackers The manufacture of green crackers has started in India already and thee eco-friendly crackers and fireworks are right now available for sellers and consumers in India in the market. The new formulations for the making of green crackers have been developed based on the suggestions received from the Supreme Court. Following the moves by the Supreme Court, so far about 230 MoUs and 165 non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) have been signed with the companies that manufacture fireworks. The green crackers have been developed as a result of the initiatives by the CSIR based on the new formulations for emitting lesser pollutants and sound. Since these crackers and fireworks make use of Potassium Nitrate as an oxidant, there will be about 30 percent reduction in the amount of particulate matter emitted. The prices of green crackers are lesser than or at least equal to the prices of the regular crackers. As per the instructions by the government, the green crackers manufacturers are printing a green logo developed by the government and a quick response (QR) code on the crackers and packets in order to help distinguish them from the regular ones. Why green crackers have been developed? On grounds of increasing pollution levels due to the firing of crackers, in October 2018, the Supreme Court had banned the manufacture, sale and use of crackers that are not environment friendly. The apex court had also announced some restrictions on the time of bursting the crackers during the <keyword id="3405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-celebrations">Diwali celebrations</keyword>. During last year, the territory of Delhi faced very poor levels of air quality following Diwali due to the emissions from crackers and fireworks. As per the Supreme Court orders, the green crackers are not loud enough beyond a particular limit. It is mandatory for the green crackers to be free of harmful ingredients like arsenic, mercury and barium. The manufacturers must obtain clearance for the green crackers from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO). The CSIR got some samples of newly developed green crackers approved by the PESO and so the Supreme Court has permitted the bulk manufacturing of green crackers from May 2019. There is no better way of celebrating this Diwali then by buying green crackers you can find easily in the market.

What are eco-friendly crackers and how are they made

The tradition of bursting crackers brings so much excitement to <keyword id="3405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-celebrations">Diwali celebrations</keyword>. Children and elders like crackers alike. While bursting crackers can be a great fund and entertainment, there are some downsides to bursting crackers including air and soil pollution. The loud sounds emanating from the crackers cause serious disturbances to people and animals. The widespread environmental and health hazards connected with the bursting of crackers has led to the government and courts apply some restrictions on the use of crackers and fireworks. Adverse effects of crackers Following the severe health hazards posed by the crackers for the residents in Delhi, the Supreme Court has ordered a ban on the sale of firecrackers. This move has received mixed reactions from the public. While we all can know the deadly effects of crackers on the already degenerating air quality, it is time that we take steps to prevent any health issues to this generation before it gets too late. With a creative planning, it is possible to replicate the fun of <keyword id="469551" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-without-crackers">Diwali without crackers</keyword>. Ideas to celebrate Diwali without crackers Go for short trips Plan for a short family trip or a get-together with close relatives you have not visited in the near past. This can bring in a lot of fun and also give room to refresh the relationships and bonds that has been robbed of our lives by the modern culture. Gift someone Use the money saved from crackers to buy some hand-made gifts or custom gifts to your near and dear ones. Gifts are a great way to make people happy. By gifting someone, you can make yourself happier than bursting crackers. Floral decorations and patterns in lamps Make attractive rangolis with family. This can give vent to your creative ideas and projecting the artists buried deep inside you. Arrange lamps in different patterns and geometrical designs. Lamps that are lit and arranged in different ways can add light, great looks and a sense of auspiciousness around. Do some charity Gift some sweets, clothes, toys or books to underprivileged children. Let the Diwali bring them happiness and cheers. Charity is in fact given a great importance in our religious tradition. Our scriptures say charity done during festivals bring added merits. Go gaming Diwali holiday can be used to play with family and friends. Give up the mobiles and digital gadgets for a day and commit yourself to spend them time together with family and groups. Since group games have disappeared from us, Diwali can be used to play team games with the family, friends, communities, and neighbors. Organize feasts Cook some delicious dishes and invite people to partake it with you. Sharing food with others can be great fun and can also bring in a lot of fulfilment and happiness. If possible, donate food to underprivileged ones. Concluding remarks By giving up crackers during Diwali, you are celebrating a greener Diwali giving your bit to the environment. While you get to save a lot of money, the amount you saved without buying crackers can be used for some other useful and interesting things connected with the festival. Diwali without crackers also means a safe Diwali with fewer accidents and health hazards.

You Searched For "Firecrackers delhi sale" and got 5 results

Delhi-NCR's air quality on brink of "emergency" after city records AQI of 487 — falling in the 'severe' category for the sixth consecutive day

PTI

The rest of India can burst normal fireworks, but its national capital is restricted to staying ‘green’

BI India Bureau

The explosive truth about the link between Chinese fireworks and India’s dim Diwali

SCMP

What are eco-friendly crackers and how are they made

BI India Bureau

How to celebrate Diwali without crackers

BI India Bureau