Only green crackers allowed in West Bengal during Diwali, Chhatt Puja for 2 hrs; Christmas, New Year's for 35 mins

Keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic, and approaching winter season that could create problems among elderly and persons with co-morbidities, the West Bengal government on Tuesday banned manufacture, stock, distribution, sale and use of joined firecrackers in the whole of the state, adding that only green crackers would be allowed for sale and use.

 

 

The government issued a notification stating that during Diwali, bursting of crackers shall be allowed from 8 to 10 pm, on Christmas from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am and on New Year from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am. “Only the green crackers (those crackers that do not use barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury arsenic, lead or strontium, chromate) would be allowed for sale and use in the state,” the notification said.

 

 

 

 

 

Green crackers are eco-friendly crackers that are made using less polluting raw materials and thus cause less pollution as compared to normal crackers. Their chemical composition also helps them suppress dust when they are burnt. Unlike normal firecrackers, green crackers do not use harmful polluting chemicals like arsenic, lithium, barium, etc

 

 

Green crackers were researched and developed by CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute). They were launched in year 2019. Companies and manufacturers can get into an agreement to use CSIR-NEERI’s formulation to make green crackers after signing no-disclosure agreements for the formulation. Green crackers are believed to cause 30 percent less particulate matter pollution as compared to traditional crackers.

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