Smog raises enforcement concerns
Faridabad woke to dense smog on Monday as the Supreme Court permitted the sale and use of certified green firecrackers across Delhi-NCR for a limited period before Diwali. The decision has placed the focus on district-level enforcement in a city already experiencing poor air quality, with residents and environmental activists questioning whether banned conventional crackers can be kept out of the market.
The court has allowed the sale and bursting of green crackers on November 7 and 8, between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm. The relaxation will end after the second day, with a complete ban scheduled to return from November 9. The order covers both Faridabad and Gurugram as part of the Delhi-NCR region.
| Date | Permitted hours | Position after the period |
|---|---|---|
| November 7-8 | 6 am-7 am; 8 pm-10 pm | Green crackers permitted |
| From November 9 | No permitted window | Complete ban reinstated |
The ruling came against the backdrop of concerns that an earlier blanket ban had not produced a significant improvement in air quality or stopped the illegal sale of conventional firecrackers. The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale adopted a regulated approach, while noting that conventional products were frequently sold as green crackers and that there was not enough data to establish whether a complete prohibition was the most effective option.
Verification is central challenge
For Faridabad, the immediate civic challenge is to ensure that the court’s restricted permission does not become a wider opening for unauthorised sales and use. Residents have raised doubts about how consumers and enforcement teams will distinguish certified green crackers from conventional products, particularly during the concentrated evening period when the permitted hours are in force.
“The relaxation should not become a licence to burst everything. The district administrations must demonstrate on the ground that the rules are being enforced.”
Environmental activists have sought checks on retailers, verification of certification through QR codes and designated locations for sales. They have also demanded round-the-clock patrolling and penalties against violators. These demands underline the need for visible accountability at the retail and neighbourhood levels, rather than relying only on the announcement of restrictions.
- Retailers should be checked for certification and unauthorised stock.
- Green-cracker claims should be verified through QR codes.
- Sales should be confined to designated points.
- Patrolling and action against violations should continue through the permitted hours.
Pollution pressure already visible
Visibility was reported to be poor across major roads in both cities as a thick haze settled over the region. At 3.51 pm, Gurugram’s air quality index was recorded at 206, in the “poor” category. Its PM2.5 level stood at 128 micrograms per cubic metre, while PM10 was recorded at 205 micrograms per cubic metre. Faridabad’s air quality was also reported to be similarly poor, although the available report did not provide a separate AQI figure for the city.
The conditions have intensified concern about even a short period of firecracker use. Health experts warned that a brief burst of emissions could push pollution levels higher, with children, elderly people and those with health vulnerabilities facing particular concern. For Faridabad residents, the issue therefore extends beyond festive observance to the enforcement of time limits, product standards and the post-Diwali restoration of the ban.
The Supreme Court’s order provides a narrow and clearly defined window, but its outcome will depend on implementation on the ground. Effective inspections, transparent certification checks and action against violations will determine whether the regulated arrangement remains limited to certified green crackers or allows conventional fireworks to return under another label.
