Sale of toxic crackers

Sale of toxic crackers

Part of: Prelims and GS II – Health and GS-III – Pollution

Context The Supreme Court on Friday said Chief Secretaries and top administrative and police officials will be held personally liable if banned varieties of firecrackers are found to be used in any of the States.

Key takeaways 

• SC said that Nobody can be permitted to play with the life of others, more particularly that of senior citizens and children.
  • Only those firecrackers are banned which are found to be injurious to health and affecting the health of citizens.
• Any lapse on the part of the State Governments/ State Agencies and Union Territories shall be viewed very seriously.
• If it is found that any banned firecrackers are manufactured, sold and used in any particular area, the Chief Secretary of the State(s), the Secretary (Home) of the State(s) and the Commissioner of Police of the area, District Superintendent of Police of the area and the SHO/police officer in-charge of the police station shall be held personally liable.
• The court had allowed the use of ‘green’ or environment-friendly crackers made without toxic ingredients.

Do you know?

• Firecrackers use fuel and oxidisers to produce a combustion reaction, and the resulting explosion spreads the material in a superheated state. The metal salts in the explosive mix get ‘excited’ and emit light.
• Many studies show, the burning of firecrackers is an unusual and peak source of pollution, made up of particles and gases.
• Pollution from firecrackers affects the health of people and animals, and aggravates the already poor ambient air quality in Indian cities. 
• This has resulted in court cases calling for a total ban on firecrackers, and court finally deciding to restrict the type of chemicals used as well as their volume.