New Delhi, Oct 31 (KNN) With Diwali just round the corner, manufacturers of fireworks are confused about the definition of "Green Crackers" which the Supreme Court used in its verdict after refusing to impose a blanket ban on sale of firecrackers but allowing the use of only green firecrackers.

Speaking to KNN India, Federation of Tamil Nadu Firework Traders General Secretary N. Elangovan said “There is no definition of Green Crackers in rule books of the government. It is an imaginary word to manufacture reduced emission fireworks.”

So far, ‘Green Crackers’ are not approved by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) team, he added.

He informed that the environment department, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is working on the manufacture of green crackers and after that they have to submit it to PESO and other stakeholders for safety checks.

After the approval by the concerned authorities, he said the manufacturers will make a trial for the same to manufacture and then only it will come into force.

On court orders, he commented that the court has given order to use and sale the fireworks that are already produced. They have imposed no restriction that.

But, he added that Delhi-NCR regions are completely banned for the sale and use of firecrackers; they are only allowed to use green crackers within the specified time set by the Supreme Court.

Due to this, approximately Rs 500 Crore business loss will be faced by Delhi traders alone, he pointed.

Adding further he said “Because of no market in Delhi, the impact will be seen in Sivakasi- the land known for firework production.”

According to Union Minister for Science & Technology as well as the Environment Dr Harsh Vardhan India’s 2 top research institutes, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), have developed crackers that are not only environment-friendly, but also 15-20 per cent cheaper than conventional crackers.

However, these crackers will not be available this Diwali.

Before coming to market, these crackers will be tested at the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation.

Scientists believe that “green crackers” will help reduce air pollution and end the reliance on harmful chemicals, making Diwali safer and a lot more environment-friendly.

Explaining green crackers, Vardhan said that existing firecrackers have four components – aluminium, barium, potassium and carbon.

He said that scientists have worked towards replacing these elements with less harmful substances.

In bid to protect environment from further alarming level of air pollution Supreme Court banned the fireworks with barium salts, such as barium nitrate to produce colourful flames in pyrotechnics as it emits toxic fumes, causing high levels of air pollution.