Lok Sabha Question No. 2776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Green Crackers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 2776

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Green Crackers

## 2776.  SHRI  M. CHANDRAKASI :

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

- (a)  the policy of the Government in matters of control/regulation of production and burning of fire crackers in the country along with the basis for defining 'green cracker';
- (b)   whether  burning  of  such  green  crackers  do  not  affect  the  environment  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c)   whether it is a fact that fire cracker production units functioning in the country will be severely crippled by the banning of non-green crackers;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken to address the concerns of the fire-cracker production industry in the country; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  incidents  of  import  of  hazardous chemicals like pet-coke, e-waste materials etc. into the country, if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  Government's policy is aimed to regulate production and burning of fire crackers in the country  based  on  latest  scientific  evidence.  The  manufacture,  sale  or  use  of  fire-crackers exceeding the noise level as prescribed in the Noise Rules, 2000is prohibited and is required to comply with safety regulations prescribed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). Government has taken serious note of the issue of pollution from fire crackers  and  has  undertaken  efforts  towards  development  of  eco-friendly  firecrackers  or green firecrackers through the National Expert Committee.

(b)  According  to  Central  Pollution  Control  Board,  burning  of  such  green  crackers  has potential of reducing pollution by 20-45% with alternative chemicals and green oxidants and control pollution from toxic elements like Barium, Aluminium and Iron due to firecrackers.

(c)    &  (d)Government  has  taken  note  of  the  representations  of  fire  crackers  associations regarding  closing  down  of  fireworks  industries  and  loss  of  livelihood  of  workers  due  to banning of non-green firecrackers. The matter is sub-judice in the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 728 of 2015 in the matter of Arjun Gopal & Others vs. Union of India & Others.

(e) The Government has taken note of the incidents of import of hazardous chemicals like pet-coke, e-waste materials etc. into the country. Government has amended the import policy in compliance with the Order dated 9 th October, 2018 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13029 of 1985 with regard to import of pet coke in the country. Also, import  of  e-waste  is  prohibited  in  the  country  as  per  sub  rule  12(6)  of  the  Hazardous  and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

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