‘Banned chemical’: CPCB red-flags new ‘green’ crackers
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has red-flagged newly introduced "green" firecracker formulations for containing a chemical previously banned by the Supreme Court.
CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) has been tasked with reformulating green crackers to cut pollution levels by 50%.
The development renews scrutiny of whether commercially sold "green crackers" genuinely comply with the reduced-emission standards they are certified against.
It raises questions about the enforcement and testing mechanism between certifying bodies and manufacturers ahead of the festive season.
Green Crackers — Origin, Categories, and Legal Basis
Green crackers are lower-emission firecracker formulations developed by CSIR-NEERI following the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling (Arjun Gopal v. Union of India) that banned the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers containing barium salts and other listed hazardous chemicals nationwide, while permitting only reduced-emission alternatives. The court's intervention followed severe post-Diwali air quality deterioration in Delhi-NCR and cited the right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Key Details
- Supreme Court judgment: 23 October 2018 (Arjun Gopal & Ors. v. Union of India), banning barium-salt crackers and "joined"/series crackers nationwide, not just Delhi-NCR
- Three CSIR-NEERI-developed categories: SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker), and SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium)
- Green crackers are certified to emit roughly 20-30% less particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) and reduced sulphur/nitrogen oxide emissions versus conventional crackers
- Manufacturing and testing require approval from PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in addition to CSIR-NEERI formulation certification
The chemical now red-flagged by CPCB is understood to be a barium-based compound (barium nitrate or a barium salt), the very category the 2018 Supreme Court order banned — indicating certified "green" formulations may still be using a prohibited substitute in commercial production.
Central Pollution Control Board — Statutory Mandate
The CPCB is India's apex statutory body for pollution control, originally constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, with additional powers later vested under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and functions as an authority under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), advising the Centre and coordinating State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
Key Details
- Statutory basis: Water Act, 1974 (Section 3); Air Act, 1981; and delegated authority under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Section 3(3)
- Functions: setting/enforcing pollution standards, monitoring air/water quality, advising government, coordinating with SPCBs, laboratory testing and certification support
- CPCB does not itself certify green crackers but works alongside CSIR-NEERI (formulation/R&D) and PESO (explosives safety approval) in the regulatory chain
- Non-compliant products can trigger CPCB advisories, testing directives, or referral for enforcement action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (penalties under Section 15: imprisonment up to 5-7 years and/or fine)
CPCB's red-flag exercises its monitoring role under the 1986 Act, signalling that firecracker manufacturers may be circumventing green-cracker certification standards, which could trigger a review of PESO approvals or CSIR-NEERI formulations before the next festive season.
Air Pollution Regulation and Seasonal Air Quality Management
Firecracker-linked air pollution is one component of India's broader seasonal air quality crisis, particularly acute in the Indo-Gangetic plain during winter, managed through mechanisms like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). CAQM was established as a permanent statutory body via the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, replacing earlier ad hoc arrangements and National Green Tribunal (NGT) oversight.
Key Details
- CAQM Act, 2021 established a permanent statutory commission (superseding the 2020 ordinance) covering Delhi-NCR and adjoining states (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan)
- GRAP stages regulate activities (construction, vehicles, industry, and firecrackers) based on Air Quality Index (AQI) thresholds
- Firecracker bans/restrictions during high-AQI periods are typically imposed via State Pollution Control Board notifications and enforced through local administration and police under the Air Act, 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- CSIR-NEERI's target of a further 50% pollution-level cut in green crackers reflects continuing pressure to align firecracker emissions with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
The CSIR-NEERI reformulation task tied to a 50% pollution cut is part of this larger air-quality management architecture, aimed at ensuring firecracker emissions do not undermine GRAP/CAQM efforts to control seasonal air quality deterioration.
- Supreme Court's Arjun Gopal v. Union of India ban on barium-salt and joined firecrackers: 23 October 2018 (applies nationwide)
- CSIR-NEERI green cracker categories: SWAS, STAR, SAFAL — certified for ~20-30% lower PM2.5/PM10 emissions
- CPCB constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; additional powers under Air Act, 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Section 3(3)
- CAQM (permanent statutory body for NCR air quality) established under the CAQM Act, 2021
- CSIR-NEERI has been tasked with a further 50% reduction in pollution levels for the next generation of green crackers