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5 chemicals banned in firecrackers:
Context
- The Supreme Court prohibited the use of five chemicals, labelled as toxic by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ahead of the festive seasons of Dussehra and Deepavali.
Judicial remark
- A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta gave the order, that no firecrackers manufactured by the respondents shall contain antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in any form whatsoever.
- The court asked the CPCB to clarify the use of strontium, another chemical branded toxic by the pollution body, in firecrackers. However, Manufacturers denied using strontium.
- The court gave the CPCB time till 15th September to entail all detailed information on the environmental impact, especially air pollution, caused by firecrackers, private manufacturers.
- Manufactures, on their defense, tried reasoning that firecrackers are not the only source of pollution.
- Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) will be responsible to ensure compliance particularly in Sivakasi.
- The order came after the court heard the submissions from officials of the CPCB and PESO, Firework Research and Development Centre at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu
