Delhi's Diwali Dilemma: Green Crackers Arrive, But Will They Clear the Air?

This special report from India Today examines Delhi's troubled embrace of green firecrackers for Diwali following a Supreme Court directive. The focus is on the widespread confusion among buyers and sellers, the limited supply of officially certified crackers, and fears that the market will be flooded with fakes. The most critical quote from an expert highlights the complexity of the issue: 'If you are burning the green cracker but the quantity is very high, the pollutant will be more.' Developed by CSIR-NEERI, these crackers are identified by a QR code and are meant to have a lower environmental impact, including a noise level below 125 decibels. However, with the late go-ahead and logistical challenges, there are significant doubts about whether this 'green' Diwali will genuinely reduce Delhi's severe air pollution or simply create new problems. The report, featuring Milan Sharma, captures the on-ground reality from Old Delhi.