Lok Sabha Question No. 2906 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Ban on Fire Crackers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 2906

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

## Ban on Fire Crackers

## 2906. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

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

- (a)   whether the Government proposes a completeban on firecrackers across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Government has assessed the adverseeffects of firecrackers on Air Quality;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;and
- (e) the  details  of  firecrackers  seized  and  arrestsmade/penalty  imposed  by  the  enforcement authorityduring last two years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) and (b) There  is  no  proposal  from  the  Government  regarding  complete  ban  on firecrackers across the country. As per directives given on 23.10.2018, the Apex Court has allowed the use of green firecrackers with reduced emissions. The Graded Response Action Plan, as notified by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change vide S.O. 118 (E) dated  January  12,  2017has  a  provision  to  strictly  enforce  the  Supreme  Court's  ban  on firecrackers when Air Quality Index (AQI) is in Moderate to poor category(ambient PM2.5 or PM10  concentration  value  is  between  61-120 μ g/m3  or  101-350 μ g/m3  respectively)  in National Capital Region.

In addition, as per Hon'ble National Green Tribunal orders dated 09.11.2020 and 01.12.2020, the following was directed:

1. 'There will be total ban against sale or use of all kinds of fire crackers in the NCR from midnight of November, 9 -10, 2020 to the midnight of November 30 - December 1, 2020, to be reviewed thereafter.' (also applicable to all cities/towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data of last year) fall under 'poor' and above category.)
2. 'There will be total ban on sale and use of all kinds of fire crackers during Covid-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the 'poor' and above category.'
3. 'During Christmas and New Year, green crackers can be used from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am only at places where air quality is 'moderate' or below as directed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.'

(c) and (d)Central Pollution Control Board carries ambient air quality monitoring on selected pre-Deepawali days and on Deepawali days since past few years. Air quality (both manual and  Real  time)  on  Pre-Deepawali  day  (09.11.2020)  and  Deepawali  day  (14.11.2020)  are monitored in the year 2020.

The  city  level  average  for  PM 10 and  PM 2.5 concentrations  on  Deepawali  day  (14.11.2020) were 645 μ g/m 3 and 483 μ g/m 3 respectively. City-wise increase/decrease in PM 10 and PM2.5 on Diwali day is tabulated below:

| City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   | City-wise increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 on Diwali day compared to Pre-Diwali period (in %)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                             | Agra                                                                                        | Delhi                                                                                       | Kolkata                                                                                     | Bengaluru                                                                                   | Bhopal                                                                                      | Lucknow                                                                                     | Vadodara                                                                                    | Shillong                                                                                    |
| PM10                                                                                        | -41.5                                                                                       | 67.1                                                                                        | 22.6                                                                                        | -24.8                                                                                       | 86.2                                                                                        | 114.0                                                                                       | -10.0                                                                                       | 53.7                                                                                        |
| PM2.5                                                                                       | -34.8                                                                                       | 82.9                                                                                        | 53.6                                                                                        | -41.4                                                                                       | 81.3                                                                                        | 67.6                                                                                        | 26.0                                                                                        | 30.5                                                                                        |

SO2 was found always within the prescribed 24 hourly NAAQS (80µg/m3) throughout the monitoring  period  including  Diwali  day.  Increase  in  SO2  concentration  on  Diwali  day  at cities  like  Delhi,  Lucknow,  Bhopal  and  Vadodara  are  evident  and  may  be  attributed  to oxidation of sulphur due to bursting of cracker.NO2 was reported within prescribed 24 hourly NAAQS (80µg/m3) in all the cities except Delhi during Pre-Diwali, Diwali and post Diwali days.  During  Pre  Diwali  period  and  on  Diwali  day  NO2  was  found  to  above  NAAQS  in Delhi.  Delhi,  Bhopal,  Lucknow  and  Bengaluru  reported  increase  in  NO2  on  Diwali  day compared to Pre-Diwali period.

Overall, in the year 2020, Deepawali had witnessed higher background levels of pollutants during pre-diwali days and further addition of particulates during night from firecrackers.

(e) Manufacturing, storage, transport, sale and handling of harmful crackers comes under the purview of ThePetroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), Nagpur under the Explosives Rules, 2008.  Seizure and arrests are imposed by the state authorities enforcing Law and Order. This information is being collected from the State/UT Governments.

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Annexure ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  &  (d)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2906 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 12.03.2021 REGARDING "BAN ON FIRE CRACKERS" RAISED BY SHRIMATISAJDA AHMED, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

| Locations Covered in Deepawali Special Monitoring   | Locations Covered in Deepawali Special Monitoring   | Locations Covered in Deepawali Special Monitoring   | Locations Covered in Deepawali Special Monitoring      | Locations Covered in Deepawali Special Monitoring                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                              | States                                              | City                                                | Name of the location                                   | Parameters covered                                                                                                                                  |
| 01                                                  | Delhi                                               | Delhi NCT                                           | 1) Pitampura 2) Janakpuri, 3) ITO                      | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 02                                                  | Gujarat                                             | Vadodara                                            | 1) Gotri Water Tank 2) M.S. University Campus          | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 03                                                  | Karnataka                                           | Bengaluru                                           | 1) Rajarajeshwari Nagar 2) Basaveshwara Nagar          | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 04                                                  | Madhya Pradesh                                      | Bhopal                                              | 1) North T.T.Nagar, 2) Nehru Nagar                     | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 05                                                  | Uttar Pradesh                                       | Agra                                                | 1) Taj Mahal 2) Nunhi                                  | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 05                                                  | Uttar Pradesh                                       | Lucknow                                             | 1) VikshKhand, Gomt Nagar, 2) MayurVihar, Indira Nagar | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |
| 06                                                  | West Bengal                                         | Kolkata                                             | 1) Kasba 2) Behala 3) North avenue                     | Regulatory Parameters like PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , Metals (Pb, Ni, As in PM 10 ) and parameters related to AAQCVs (Al, Fe and Ba in PM 2.5 ) |