Diwali 2018: Green Firecrackers Named SWAS, SAFAL and STAR Made by CSIR to Be 15–20% Cheaper, Pollution-Free
Union Minister Dr Harsh informed during a press conference that these crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe thermite cracker (STAR).
New Delhi, October 30: In view of the Supreme Court's ruling on firecrackers, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) scientists has developed less polluting green firecrackers named SWAS, SAFAL and STAR. These firecrackers are not only environment-friendly but also 15-20 percent cheaper than the conventional ones. Union Minister Dr Harsh informed during a press conference that the firecrackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe thermite cracker (STAR).
These firecrackers developed by the CSIR has a unique property of releasing water vapour and /or air as a dust suppressant and diluent for gaseous emissions and matching performance in sound with conventional crackers. Sale of Safe and Green Firecrackers Allowed, No Complete Ban Across India, Rules Supreme Court Ahead of Diwali 2018.
As per a government release, the NEERI team involved in the project has 80 percent of women scientists. The e-crackers have been developed with products like E-Ladi, E-Anar, E-cracker show. It is for the first time an Emission Testing Facility established in India for sound and emission testing of crackers.
Vardhan stated that firecracker manufacturers have taken keen interest with laboratories throughout the process and the new crackers would not require changes in their manufacturing facilities. The Minister further added saying that this initiative by the CSIR aims at addressing the pollution concerns at the same time protecting the livelihoods of those involved in this trade.
The Indian Fireworks industry is over 6000-crore worth of annual turnover and provides employment opportunities to over 5 lakh families directly or indirectly.
On October 23, a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A K Sikri fixed the time period for the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals and permitted the sale and manufacture of "green" firecrackers across the country. The Court said that people can burst firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM only on Diwali and other festivals.
The "green crackers" which have a low emission of light, sound and harmful chemicals. The Court carved out an exception for the Christmas and the New Year eve saying that crackers for these occasions would be burst between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am, since these celebrations start at midnight.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2018 09:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).