Cracker conundrum: On need for strict enforcement of cracker ban

The two Deepavali nights following the Supreme Court’s (SC) temporary relaxation of the cracker ban, played out predictably. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in several north Indian cities — already ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the first week of November — was ‘severe’ on Deepavali night. Several air sensors — maintained by various organisations — reported PM2.5 in Delhi and its outskirts, exceeding 1,000 by Deepavali night.

In this context, the SC’s order last week regarding crackers bears revisiting. While stating it was aware of the consequences of emissions from crackers, the Court has been waiting for quantitative evidence on the health and environmental effects of emissions from Deepavali celebrations. Such direct, causative evidence is almost impossible to furnish.

Slackening winds and post-monsoon atmospheric dryness are known to trap the latent particulate matter from vehicles, industries, construction dust and stubble burning. Crackers are only an additional element that further degrades an already vitiated air.