India is ready with its much-awaited green crackers! Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday announced that Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs have been successful in developing various environment-friendly fireworks such as sound emitting crackers, flowerpots, pencils, chakkar and sparklers.
"These fireworks, based on new formulations developed by CSIR, have been manufactured and are available in the Indian market for consumers and sellers," he said.
However, sources said that these crackers may not be available this Diwali as those with 'improved formulations' need legal approval while manufacturers are yet not ready for preparing these friendly products based on new formulations.
A network of nine CSIR laboratories has come up with two categories of alternatives - "new" crackers without barium salt and "improved" crackers with a lesser quantity of barium. Both would lead to a 30-35 per cent decline in emission.
However, since the court has prohibited the use of barium salt, the manufacturers will have to wait for the Supreme Court to decide the matter when it comes for hearing on October 22.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said that nearly 230 memorandums of understanding and 165 non-disclosure agreements have been signed with firework makers.
Also, 530 emission certificates have been issued testifying that emissions from such products are at par with the SC-specified norms.
DG CSIR, Dr Shekhar Mande said that the CSIR has set up a first of its kind emission testing facility for checking emission from source and establishing raw materials characterisation and compositional analysis facility.
CSIR-NEERI Director Dr Rakesh Kumar said that new formulations have developed for reduced emission light and sound emitting crackers with 30 per cent reduction in particulate matter using potassium nitrate as an oxidants.
These new and improved formulations are available for adoption by fireworks manufacturers like of Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO), Indian Fireworks Manufacturers Association and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Similarly, Dr Kumar said we have developed improvements in conventional formulations based on Barium Nitrate to meet the stipulated norms of gree crackers as per the recommendation of a technical panel. The implementation of these formulations is subject to recommendation of PESO to apex court for approval, he added.