Delhi-NCR Air Crisis: SC Hearing on Crackers and Crop Fires

Delhi-NCR's worsening air quality has once again brought the spotlight on the Supreme Court, which is set to hear petitions on Thursday covering pollution, stubble burning, and the sale of 'green' firecrackers in the run-up to Diwali.

With the festive season approaching, concerns are mounting over how to keep pollution in check across the region. The court is expected to deliberate on the making and bursting of firecrackers, while also considering other possible steps to improve the air in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court's earlier directive remains in force, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, and use of all firecrackers in the region. This ban was introduced as part of a broader effort to tackle the pollution emergency and to restrict activities that could further harm air quality.

In its previous hearing, the court showed some willingness to ease these curbs. It allowed firecracker manufacturers to produce 'green' crackers for Delhi-NCR, while stressing that manufacturing permission was not the same as permission to sell them.

The bench made it clear that even under the proposed relaxation, green crackers could be made but not sold at that stage. This makes the question of whether sales should be allowed a central concern for the hearing scheduled before Diwali.

The Supreme Court had further instructed the Union government to hold discussions with all stakeholders and to frame a balanced policy on the making and use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.