Fake ‘green’ crackers swamp markets

 

 

 

THOUGH the Supreme Court of India imposed complete ban on sale and use of firecrackers and allowed eco-friendly firecrackers this Diwali, spurious ‘green crackers’ have flooded in markets of the city. The green crackers are supposed to carry certification of CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and a QR (quick response) code. But, when The Hitavada scribe visited city markets, he noticed several boxes having the ‘Logo of CSIRNEERI’ on them but no certification from PESO, no registration number and no QR Code available on them. CSIR-NEERI signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 874 manufacturers for production of green crackers. But, the name of the manufacturing company printed on the box is not available in the registered manufacturers list of CSIR-NEERI. Green crackers have a small shell size as compared to regular firecrackers and the formulation comprises less polluting raw materials. Green crackers too, in many cases, use polluting chemicals like aluminium, barium, potassium nitrate and carbon but the quantity is low, which in turn lowers the emission by about 30 per cent. In some green crackers, these chemicals are not at all used. Along with the CSIR-NEERI’s stamp of approval, the crackers are also mandated to be affixed with a QR code that customers can scan and obtain information about the crackers’ emissions and composition. CSIR-NEERI has developed a mobile application named ‘Green QR Code’ where one can scan the QR codes on the firecrackers to verify their authenticity as green crackers.

 

“Most green crackers do not publish QR codes at all and emissions are untraceable. If the crackers are genuinely green, their certification will pop up. If they don’t have a QR code at all, they are not the real deal,” said an expert with a condition of anonymity. WhenThe Hitavada asked Dr Sadhana Rayalu, Senior Most Scientist, CSIR-NEERI about the ‘fake’ green crackers in the market, she rolled the ball into the PESO’s court and said, “PESO is the regulatory agency for fireworks”. Though the proper implementation of ban on firecrackers and checking the availability of authentic ‘green crackers’ in the market is PESO’s jurisdiction, but this Diwali the perpose of banning firecrackers is not going to serve due to loopholes in the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order. Green activist and founder of Green Vigil Foundation Kaustav Chatterjee said, “The name ‘green crackers’ itself is confusing. Green crackers emits only 30% less pollution as compared to normal crackers.

 

This means, green crackers do emit 70% pollution including suspended particulate matter, heavy metals etc., then, how can these crackers be termed as ‘Green’?” “Taking advantage of the ignorance and lack of awareness, green crackers are being sold at a 25% higher price. Market is flooded with green crackers but are they really the one which CSIR-NEERI has developed? In most of the cases, logo of CSIR-NEERI are being used to identify the crackers as green but where is the authenticity,” questioned Chatterjee. He said, “Has any authority checked whether these crackers have been manufactured, following formulations developed by CSIR-NEERI?” Overall, like previous years, this year also a huge confusion prevails in the market regarding green crackers which is benefiting the sellers, said the green activist.