After cleaner Diwali in Delhi, should cracker ban be extended across India?
Bursting firecrackers for entertainment is a luxury that developing nations with dirty air just can’t afford.
The Supreme Court had on October 9 banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali in the national capital region (NCR) to check its effects on the severe pollution and smog-like conditions that prevail here during this time of the year. What turned out is that the figures for Particulate Matter (2.5) and the Air Quality Index (AQI), on Diwali and the day after, improved this year in comparison to 2016, even though the ban was not absolute.
Before the SC order, many people would have already bought crackers, and these were burst on Diwali.
PM 2.5: Diwali day
October 30, 2016: 452 (severe)
October 19, 2017: 353 (severe)
PM 2.5: Day after Diwali
October 31, 2016: 624 (severe)
October 20, 2017: 424 (severe)
In the light of this fact, should there be an absolute ban on the sale as well as bursting of crackers in future, and should it be extended across India?
The interested lobbies have questioned whether PM2.5 is indeed so terrible for human health.
Of the five pollutants that populate our Air Quality Index — So2 No2, CO, Ozone and PM2.5 — it is that last solid particulate matter that causes the worst, irreversible harm to our organs, including lungs, liver, kidneys, reproductive organs and brain. It causes not just cardiopulmonary and respiratory damage but also cancer and strokes.
But then why ban only crackers? There are at least five other sources that contribute heavily to PM2.5 — burning of crop stubble, garbage and biomass, industrial combustion in power and cement sectors and vehicular emission.
Also, how do we balance the ban with the issue of livelihood? There were protests from retailers in Delhi and from producers in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Nearly 85 per cent of India's produce of firecrackers is from this town and an estimated 3 lakh people, many of them children, are employed in this trade. The livelihood of all these people was hit. Firecracker manufacturers estimate a Rs 1,000-crore loss this year.
However, according to the damning findings published in Lancet medical journal recently, pollution is deadlier than war, disaster, hunger.
Lancet medical journal
Pollution deadliest killer (worldwide figures) in 2015
- 92%: Pollution-linked deaths in low- middle-income countries
- 90 lakh (16%): Premature deaths worldwide linked to pollution
- 65 lakh deaths: Air pollution
- 18 lakh deaths: Water pollution
- 8 lakh deaths: Workplace-related pollution
(India world's worst)
- 25% of premature deaths in India (one out of every four)
- Pollution killed as many as 25 lakh million people in the country
- Most of these deaths are due to non-communicable diseases caused by pollution, such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Although the protests from traders are understandable, the protest from certain quarters that the ban is "anti-Hindu" beats logic. Their argument is that only a Hindu tradition is being banned, while there are no restrictions on the slaughter of lambs during Id or loudspeakers blaring for the azaan (call to prayer) or even celebrations during Christmas.
Novelist Chetan Bhagat was among the prominent voices contributing to this rant. Tripura governor Tathagata Roy stoked fresh controversy by comparing azaan with the noise of firecrackers.
Can I just ask on cracker ban. Why only guts to do this for Hindu festivals? Banning goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed soon too?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 9, 2017
Crackers were never "an integral part of Diwali". In fact, traditionally, Diwali is the festival of lights that marks the anniversary of the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja are performed in some parts of the country on the occasion. Cracker bursting is a recent phenomenon, as is the commercialisation of the festival.
Why do the right-wing groups think this ban is about Diwali or the festivities at all, and not for the collective health of people - rich and poor, of all religions? After all, air is the ultimate democratiser. It knows no geographic, socio-economic, class, or race boundaries. In fact, poor air is harmful for even animals and plants - any living being that respires.
As for those who are talking about practices related to other festivals, one can only point out that the cracker ban was brought about by a petition in the court, filed on the behalf of three children between 6 and 14 months of age. So those who have problems with other practices should approach the Supreme Court with a petition and try to argue their case. They should not link the matter with Diwali and crackers.
If we speak about the wastage and economic loss, bursting crackers is the least productive. Industrialised and urbanised cities need fuel for energy, power and transportation for almost every purpose and PM2.5 is usually the by-product of economically productive activities — transportation, preparing for the next season's crops, providing heat for cooking or warming.
But bursting firecrackers for entertainment has the least productive value attached to it and is a luxury that developing nations with dirty air just can't afford.
Nobody is taking away the rights to celebrate Diwali. It is only the way it is being celebrated. Even the Constitution, which guarantees the right to profess, practise and propagate one's religion under Article 25, puts restrictions on celebrations on grounds of public order, morality and health.
There are many countries that have regulations on firecrackers. Canada banned firecrackers in 1972, in United Kingdom, firecrackers became illegal in 1997. In 2009, Norway banned the use of rocket firecrackers, and in Taiwan, firecrackers are banned in urban areas.
What appears is that the ban has unnecessarily been politicised. It is our duty to protect our environment, our children, our grandparents, and ourselves as well. Education with value, and awareness among people is the need of the hour.