Celebrate a healthy Diwali tomorrow

Meanwhile, regarding a far more localised and short time-targeted climate action, the Supreme Court on Monday overturned last week's Calcutta High Court order banning fireworks till January 2022. Instead, it has reiterated its October 2018 order of allowing only 'green' fireworks across the country, prohibiting traditional ones that use barium and potassium nitrate, and aluminium that produce toxic fumes - and colour and sparkle. Coming three days before Diwali, the order expects too much from citizens and traders. 'Green' fireworks are to have a QR code, address of the factory and a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-approved logo.

According to a recent CBI inquiry, harmful crackers were still being sold using fake labels and QR codes. GoI's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) was cited in the Calcutta High Court case as having cleared only four 'green' brands to date. West Bengal has reportedly no 'green' factory yet. And, as if Delhi-NCR's seasonal air pollution problem was hot air, till Monday, Delhi Police has seized 4,000 kg of firecrackers, arresting 26 people in 23 cases, not a kg 'green'.

For a 'green' fireworks market to be in place, measures need to be taken at all points of the supply chain. A day before Diwali/Kali puja - with Chhath and Jagadhatri puja, Christmas Eve, etc, in tow - de facto, there is no time to have these measures in place. Respiratory problems, with Covid still in the air, cannot find a balm in de jure 'action'. And perceived tradition or non-compliance in the name of livelihood can be no answer to continued self-harm. Beyond judicial hopes and wishes, one can only urge citizens to celebrate the festival season with gusto, empathy and safety. Have a happy, healthy Diwali!