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The nation's top judicial body has given the green light the distribution and ignition of crackers considered lower-emission for the upcoming Diwali season, while air quality levels in capital Delhi reach the severe category.

Pyrotechnics have been prohibited in Delhi since 2020, as they significantly add to the annual pollution problem the city experiences.

The so-called green crackers, which the judiciary approved on this week, are engineered to emit twenty to thirty percent fewer harmful substances than conventional ones and produce very little residue, as stated by their makers.

Yet critics argue that although less harmful, they still release toxic substances into the atmosphere and negatively affect the environment.

Severe Pollution Levels Recorded in the Capital

The Supreme Court's decision came on a occasion when pollution levels in Delhi were drastically above the recommended limits suggested by the WHO.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board's website, most parts of the city on Wednesday morning registered PM2.5 concentrations – tiny particles in the atmosphere – between 300 and 400.

These small particulates are highly risky – they can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and present significant medical dangers. In some of the most affected areas, the readings crossed the 400 threshold.

According to the government's AQI, when these readings exceed 300, they can cause lung diseases in people exposed for long periods. Readings above 400 can affect even healthy individuals and have severe effects on at-risk populations such as minors, the elderly and those with existing health conditions.

Recurring Pollution Issue in Delhi

Air quality deterioration is a regular crisis that Delhi and many additional parts of northern India experience every cold season.

The pollution worsens due to low wind speed, vehicular emissions and crop residue fires in adjacent states.

And the widespread bursting of festive pyrotechnics during Diwali worsens the condition. Although there has been a ban on pyrotechnics for the past five years, implementation on the local level has been inadequate.

Locals often report of the air being too toxic to inhale on the morning after Diwali.

Analysts state that currently we might see pollution levels deteriorate, especially since the public are allowed to set off green crackers.

Court Directives and Social Response

In Wednesday's ruling, the Supreme Court has also provided a set of specific instructions on the timing and manner these firecrackers could be distributed and ignited.

The judiciary said the sale would be allowed between the weekend and Monday from licensed shops and the firecrackers could only be set off in specified areas. The judicial body fixed a three-hour window for ignition, one hour in the early hours and two hours at night.

The ruling has generated mixed responses on online platforms.

A number of have supported the decision, stating it allows them to fully observe the religious occasion.

Critics, however, contend that implementation of pyrotechnic rules has previously been weak and permitting them could additionally worsen the capital's air quality.

Government Measures to Address Pollution

Meanwhile, in an effort to combat rising environmental degradation, the Delhi government on Tuesday implemented the GRAP which prohibits all activities involving the use of solid fuels, as well as the use of backup power sources for non-essential services.