Centre Seeks Supreme Court Approval for Fresh Green Cracker Tests Following Clash Between CSIR-NEERI and CPCB

In the wake of conflicting scientific opinions and policy disagreements between two premier government bodies, the central government has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking permission to conduct fresh empirical tests on green firecrackers. The core controversy centers around the controversial use of barium salts in next-generation green firecrackers—a chemical component previously restricted by judicial orders. Appearing before a bench of Justices M.M. Sundaresh and Augustine George Masih, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati stated that the administration intends to conduct comprehensive multi-city testing to resolve safety and emission concerns conclusively.

The Clash Between CSIR-NEERI and the Central Pollution Control Board

The regulatory deadlock emerged after the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reached diametrically opposed conclusions regarding the commercial viability of newly formulated green crackers.

The Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (Tanfama), collaborating under central guidelines to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by over 50%, developed a modified chemical formula utilizing reduced quantities of barium nitrate and oxidizers. While CSIR-NEERI's technical evaluation endorsed the formula, CPCB raised serious legal and environmental red flags.

What CSIR-NEERI’s Evaluation Report Claimed

According to CSIR-NEERI's submission, the newly tested cracker compositions achieved a significant 45% to 60% reduction in harmful PM10 and PM2.5 emissions compared to conventional pyrotechnics.

• Approved Categories: The institute recommended commercial production for illuminating fireworks such as sparklers, flowerpots, chakris, and twinkling stars, alongside fused string crackers.

• Waste Reduction: The report argued that fused firecrackers lowered particulate emissions by roughly 30% and minimized solid waste generation by 32%.

CPCB Objections and Supreme Court Interventions

Pushing back against the commercial clearance, the CPCB formally reminded authorities that the Supreme Court's landmark order of October 23, 2018, explicitly prohibited the use of barium salts in fireworks. The pollution watchdog argued that incorporating any formulation containing barium compounds constitutes a direct violation of judicial directives. Furthermore, CPCB criticized the CSIR-NEERI findings for failing to benchmark emission drops against improved low-emission options or completely barium-free green alternatives.

Representing petitioners who originally secured bans on polluting fireworks, counsels argued that the apex court has issued successive orders over the past few years firmly barring barium use. Recognizing the technical complexity of the dispute, the Supreme Court directed the central government to consult independent scientific experts before finalizing protocols for the upcoming multi-city trials across New Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Chennai.