Will green crackers lead to a safer Diwali? I The Urban Debate

On The Urban Debate, with Tanvi Shukla, we discuss the Supreme Court order against a blanket ban on crackers ahead of the festive season. Supreme Court set aside a West Bengal HC order recommending a blanket ban on all crackers. Ms Shukla elaborated that Supreme Court has banned poisonous crackers and that green crackers will be allowed. We discuss the on-ground reality of this order with the help of experts from across the field. Alok B Lal, the former DGP of Uttarakhand elucidated the mammoth task of stopping poisonous crackers from being banned. He asked for “strict action” on green crackers and that the banning should be implemented on “the manufacturing state”. Ms Shukla also elaborated the steps that customers can take to identify a green cracker from a harmful or banned one. Avikal Somvanshi from the Centre For Science & Environment showed the viewers how difficult it will be to successfully identify green crackers and also showed how bursting green crackers is “still polluting”. Harjeet Singh Chabbra, President of the Cracker Association, Sadar Bazaar, Delhi also weighed in on how the Delhi government is still banning crackers despite the Supreme Court’s offer. Anuja Kapur, Spokesperson BJP also added on how cracker manufacturers of Delhi have lost their livelihoods due to the national capital’s total ban. Our host brought back the reigns of the conversations and asked our panelists to “spare the politics” from a conversation that affects everyone across the political spectrum. Manpreet Sandhu from the Punjab Congress party also weighed in on how state Governments have the onus to battle the cracker problem.

Keep watching to know more about this cracking debate!
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