Lok Sabha Question No. 3482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Chinese Crackers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0 3482

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## Chinese Crackers

## 3482. SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  imported  Chinese  Crackers  have  raised  the  pollution  level  in  the  country alarmingly;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to check/ curb the said import;
- (c)   whether  the  Government  has  issued  instructions  to  crackers  manufacturing  units  to manufacture fire crackers producing low level of noise and causing less air pollution;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof; and?
- (e) the policy formulated/ implemented by the Government to control noise and air pollution effectively during the festivals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The  Government  is  not  aware  of  any  such  study  to  indicate  that  imported  Chinese crackers  have  raised  the  pollution  level  in  the  country  alarmingly.  However,  bursting  of firecrackers  is  found  to  raise  both  noise  and  air  pollution  particularly  during  festivals  like Diwali. Available data for 'Pre-Diwali' and 'Diwali-Day' for different cities indicates rise in both noise and air pollution after Diwali.

(b) Import of 'Fireworks' covered under Indian Trade (Harmonised System) classification [(ITC(HS)] code 36041000 is 'restricted' and no one can import fireworks without a licence / authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

(c)  &  (d)  Manufacturing  and  sale  of  harmful  fire-crackers  come  under  the  purview  of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur under the Explosives Act, 2008. The PESO has come out with the chemical formulae for 4 types of commonly used sound  producing  crackers  namely  Atom  bomb,  Chinese  crackers,  maroons  and  Garland crackers specifying the proportion/composition as well as maximum permissible weight of every chemical used in the manufacture of said fire crackers. It has also directed that every manufacturer shall mention the details of chemical content on the box of each fire cracker vide its order dated 7 th March, 2008.

(e) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate has notified Noise Pollution (Regulation  and  Control)  Rules,  2000  for  regulation  and  control  of  noise  pollution.  These Rules inter-alia  relate  to  restriction  of  the  use  of  fire-crackers  in  addition  to  loudspeakers, public address systems and sound producing systems during festivals. Further, the other steps taken  to  control  pollution  levels inter  alia include  advisories  for  noise  monitoring  on  the occasion of Diwali; prohibition of the use of fireworks between 10.00 p.m. and 06.00 a.m.; publicity regarding the ill effects of fire-crackers and awareness programme to avoid bursting of fire-crackers etc.

Ministry has notified the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for regulation and control of air pollution. Further, Government has taken a number of measures for control of air pollution in the country which, inter alia , include notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); notification and revision of emission and effluent standards for various  industrial  sectors;  setting  up  of  monitoring  network  for  assessment  of  ambient  air quality;  launching  of  National  Air  Quality  Index;  introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; promotion of public transport and network of metro, e-rickshaws, promotion of car  pooling,  Pollution  Under  Control  Certificate,  lane  discipline,  vehicle  maintenance, notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass; issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)  Act,  1981  comprising  action  points  to  counter  air  pollution  in  major  cities including  control  and  mitigation  measures  related  to  vehicular  emissions,  re-suspension  of road  dust  and  other  fugitive  emissions,  bio-mass/municipal  solid  waste  burning,  industrial pollution,  construction and demolition activities, and other general steps; installation of online continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; collection of Environmental Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles; and notification of graded response action plan for Delhi and NCR etc.

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