Supreme court’s ruling to ban the sale of firecrackers in and around Delhi in order to curb pollution is as flawed as the reaction that sprung out of it that it offends Hindu religion.  While I support the fact that bursting firecrackers adds to the air & noise pollution while disturbing the nocturnal amicability of other species, the complete ban on the sale of firecrackers is not the solution. The ban only adversely affects the traders, most of whom depend upon the business done during this part of the year for their survival.

Why will the ban not curb air and noise pollution?
If the sale of firecrackers is banned in a city, there will be procurement from the outskirts of cities. The traders will not issue bill but will be forced to enter the grey market business and transact in cash. So despite the ban, there will be firecrackers bursting in the city skyline with same or increased fervor than the last year.

What should be the solution to curb air & noise pollution during Diwali while saving the interest of the traders?
1.    There should be timelines dedicated for bursting firecrackers; a few hours in the evening say from 8pm-11pm. Anyone found to flout the deadline shall be punishable under the provisions of the act. This will ensure that birds, insects, and animals are not disturbed due to the continuous bursting of crackers during Diwali nights. This will also ensure that elderly population and young children are not disturbed during Diwali nights who have been reported to have complaints of chest pain, increased heartbeats and irritation due to the bursting of crackers.

2.    There should be firecracker zones allotted in the cities for people who want to burst the firecrackers. This will ensure that the entire city is not polluted with noise and air pollution but only certain designated open spaces will have likeminded people celebrating festival unhindered.

3.    There should be a complete ban on certain crackers like heavy intensity thunder and jumbo bombs that release high levels of smoke and sound causing psychosomatic disturbances in the form of mental impairments, irregular heart-beats, temporary to permanent deafness, asthma, bronchitis, etc. Scientists have tested certain firecrackers in the market that emit more than 3000 microgrammes per cubic meter (µg/m3) on the spot whereas the safe limit is 100µg/m3 over a span of 8 hours. This is extremely dangerous especially for children who are the main target of the fireworks market.

4.    There can be manufacturing guidelines set which ensures a minimum amount of emission from crackers. Though firecracker manufacturing market is one of those unregulated markets which is far from being technologically advanced (often the manufacturing takes place in small shanties employing underage children), these emission guidelines may seem far from execution. But if the Supreme Court is serious about curbing the air & noise pollution during festivals, it needs to give directives to the government to initiate a research and development in this direction. This may time take time but will protect the interests of business, environment, and celebrations.

5. Lastly, there should be an awareness campaign about the true essence of Diwali festival that has largely been reduced to retail boom and ostentatious social media bombarding of celebrations just like any other festival. When has polluting water bodies in the form of idol immersions and polluting environment with firecrackers been a tradition of a religion that has been the foremost propagator of balance between human and environment? Hinduism that has always held panch mahabhut or five elements of nature (earth, water, fire, air, ether) sacred to their worship and rituals. How can Hindus who use the energy of heat (fire) and sound (mantras) during yagna to purify environment consider the blatant emission of polluted smoke and noise by firecrackers as an integral part of their religious philosophy?