From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 13: A day after Karnataka High Court asked the State Government on what it meant by ‘Green Crackers’ which had been permitted during Deepavali festival replacing Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s earlier order banning firecrackers to check atmospheric pollution, the Yediyurappa regime has modified its previous order and has defined the green crackers.
In its modified order, the State Government laid out its guidelines on green crackers and said these crackers do not contain harmful chemicals and reduce air pollution.
Representational image
The revised guidelines said green crackers are less harmful than conventional firecrackers.
In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the State Government came out with revised guidelines to assist the public to differentiate green crackers from the conventional crackers and permitted bursting of green crackers as sparklers, flowerpots, maroons.
The green crackers are manufactured as per the formulation developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NERI) lab, functions under Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
Green crackers products approved by Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization which functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries
Green crackers packing can be identified through distinct green logo of CSIR-NEERI and PESO as well as a Quick Response coding system. QR code is a novel feature incorporated on the firecrackers to avoid manufacture and sale of counterfeit products, the guidelines said.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has appealed to the people of the State to celebrate Diwali in a “simple manner” and refrain from bursting firecrackers in the light of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Traders having licenses are permitted to sell green crackers from November 7 to 16 at identified locations.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) concerned would grant permission to sell crackers at public grounds or vacant spaces. Shops should maintain six meters distance to ensure free flow of air. All shops have to display licenses granted to them by the authorities concerned to sell crackers.
During buying of crackers, wearing of masks and maintaining social distance have been made mandatory. Facilities such as sanitizer and thermal screening should be made available at each shop to prevent spread of COVID-19.
The Karnataka High Court said that crackers without the distinct green logo of CSIR-NEERI and PESO cannot be sold.
Green crackers can be identified through the distinct green logo of the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) as well as quick response coding systems.
"Green crackers packing can be identified through distinct green logo of CSIR-NEERI and PESO as well as a quick response (QR) coding system...The above features will assist in differentiating green crackers from conventional crackers," the new order issued by Anjum Parvez, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, Karnataka government stated.
The High Court on Friday said that any cracker without the green logo cannot be sold and asked the state government if an officer had been designated to check if green crackers are being sold.
The High Court also asked the State Government to give wide publicity to the new order issued on Thursday and asked the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to show 'zero tolerance' to those who violate the order of selling only green crackers.
The clarification from the Karnataka government came after a direction by the Karnataka High Court questioning the state government that it had not specified what constituted green crackers in its order.
Earlier this month, Karnataka Chief Minister announced a ban on crackers during Deepavali. However, he soon retracted the ban, announcing that 'green crackers' will be allowed.
"Green crackers are manufactured as per the formulation developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEER) lab and product approval is given by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)...Green firecrackers are available as sparklers, flowerpots and maroons etc.," added the order.
According to CSIR-NEERI, green crackers produce 30-35% less emission compared to non-green crackers. They also reportedly emit 125 decibels of sound, which is less than the 160 decibels emitted by non-green fireworks.
The Karnataka High Court bench was hearing a petition filed by advocate Narendra Babu which claimed that bursting crackers during Deepavali could exacerbate COVID-19 owing to the pollution and smog generated.