MPCB allows use of ‘Green’ crackers; dealers unaware about such crackersl
| Date :12-Nov-2020 |
NEERI-approved eco-friendly fire-crackers now in markets.
Staff Reporter :
NEERI-authorised fire-crackers only are allowed this Diwali
City markets face shortage of ‘Green’ crackers
Use of such crackers allowed between 8 pm and 10 pm only
Though Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has allowed ‘Green’ eco-friendly firecrackers this Diwali, the dealers in city are unaware about such crackers. Even they have confusion about the fire-crackers they are selling. With concern over increasing pollution, especially in cities, the MPCB has finally allowed sale and bursting of ‘Green’ fire-crackers’, on Wednesday. However, the Board is firm on its stand about no other fire-crackers be allowed this Diwali.
Following an order from the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT), the MPCB, a day ago, had issued letters to District Collector and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to impose complete ban on sale and use of fire-crackers in city. But, on Wednesday, the MPCB allowed sale and use of ‘Green crackers’ only. “We have allowed ‘Green crackers’ for Nagpur and Chandrapur cities today. Also, citizens can burst green crackers this Diwali for two hours -- between 8 pm and 10 pm. The ‘Green crackers’ approved by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) only be allowed for sale and use,” said A M Kare, Regional Officer, MPCB, while talking to The Hitavada.
Kare also said, “We have also instructed the District administration to take action against those people who will use other fire-crackers instead of green crackers this Diwali.” When ‘The Hitavada’ did the reality check in markets across city, it found that the wholesalers, retailers and even the buyers were unaware about ‘Green Crackers’. When a buyer asked for a ‘Green Cracker’, the shop-owner has no idea which cracker is green. “We have instruction from the administration to sale only ‘Green crackers’ but we have no idea about it,” a retailer Deepen Saxena said to The Hitavada. Also, the shop-owners are unaware about the NEERI-recognised crackers which are available in their shops.
The market also have shortage of ‘Green crackers’. “We are selling those fire-crackers that we have ordered to companies in Sivakasi. They have never asked us to take ‘Green crackers’, so, how would we know more about such crackers,” said another retailer Rajesh Chaurasia. Amid dilemma, dealers are selling fire-crackers and people are buying those without much knowledge about ‘Green crackers’. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has listed 122 cities in the country with air quality beyond normal standard. Four cities of Vidarbha feature in the list , and they are Nagpur, Akola, Amravati and Chandrapur. The Tribunal has rolled the ball in the court of State Government and MPCB and decide on sale/ban fire-crackers. Following the directions, the MPCB allowed only ‘Green Crackers’ in Nagpur and Chandrapur cities. According to NGT order, only ‘Green crackers’ - considered to be less polluting - will be sold in cities and towns where air quality is ‘moderate’.
MPCB issued a list of cities which have moderate or better Air Quality Index (AQI) last year to all district administrations. During day one of Diwali in the year 2019, the AQI of Nagpur was 64. Similarly, on the second day, it was 73 which was moderate. On the basis of the data, the MPCB has allowed to sale and use of ‘Green crackers’ in the city this Diwali.