Firecrackers are being openly sold across several markets in Delhi ahead of Diwali, raising questions over enforcement of environmental restrictions as the Capital's air quality begins to deteriorate ahead of the winter pollution season.
A spot check by Hindustan Times on October 22 and again on Monday found firecrackers being sold in major markets, including Sadar Bazaar, Shastri Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Sarojini Nagar and New Friends Colony. Vendors were displaying products labelled “green crackers”, “pollution-free” and “zero pollution”, while conventional firecrackers were available on request, often through nearby warehouses or concealed stocks.
The findings came even as the Supreme Court on Monday permitted the sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for a limited period around Diwali. The court observed that its earlier blanket ban had repeatedly been violated, with conventional firecrackers being sold under the guise of green crackers.
The court's observations also raised concerns about Delhi Police's ability to enforce restrictions on the manufacture, sale and bursting of firecrackers.
Supreme Court lays down strict conditions
In its October 29 order, made public on Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the bursting of certified green firecrackers on November 7 and 8, subject to specific time restrictions. Firecrackers can be burst only between 6am and 7am and between 8pm and 10pm on both days.
The court also directed that the complete ban on firecrackers be restored from November 9.
Manufacturers holding valid certifications from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) have been permitted to manufacture only approved green crackers between November 2 and 6.
The sale of these crackers will be permitted only at designated locations between November 4 and 6. Online sales have been prohibited, and every box must carry a product-specific QR code that allows buyers to verify its authenticity.
The court has also prohibited the manufacture and sale of firecrackers joined in series, commonly known as 'laris' or garlands, as well as those containing barium or not approved by CSIR-NEERI.
Bursting firecrackers within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones has also been prohibited. Educational institutions have been included in the no-cracker restrictions.
Vendors openly display crackers in Old Delhi
In Chandni Chowk, more than 20 carts were lined up with different varieties of firecrackers, ranging from sparklers to poppers.
At one stall, Naimuddin, who usually sells vegetables, said he had switched to selling firecrackers for six to seven days during Diwali.
“I sell firecrackers meant for children only, for just six to seven days during Diwali,” he said. His cart was stationed at the entrance of Dariba Kalan's silver jewellery market, barely 10 metres from the Jama Masjid police station.
He claimed that he did not sell fountains, spinners, rockets or larger bombs but suggested that customers visit Sadar Bazaar if they wanted those varieties.
“We don’t sell fountains, spinners, rockets, and other bigger bombs. But if you want, you can check Sadar Bazaar. Everything is available there,” he told HT.
Another vendor, Nidhi, said business had been relatively poor this year despite the festive season.
“Last year the sale was good because there were less carts. This time the stores have more than doubled and we are hardly making ₹1,000-1,500 a day,” she said.
As she spoke, she packed firecrackers worth ₹400 for Nisha Kumari, a resident of Yusuf Sarai.
“I purchased a few small crackers for my daughter, and some other festivities sake,” Kumari said.
Although five to six shops in the same lane, run by families that have been in the firecracker business for more than two generations, have permanently shut, one of the owners was seen sitting outside a closed shop.
“Come back after 6pm; all the firecrackers will be available then,” he told HT.
Street vendors said their carts had been operating in the lane since October 20.
Several carts were stacked with colourful firecracker boxes in multiple layers. Almost all the products appeared to violate the restrictions, including those governing the sale of green crackers.
Most boxes did not carry QR codes that could be used to verify whether the products were certified green crackers. Some codes redirected users to online firecracker catalogues, while others were too small to be scanned.
Sadar Bazaar vendors offer conventional and green crackers
The situation was similar in Sadar Bazaar, another major Old Delhi market, where conventional and green firecrackers were being sold openly.
Himanshi Anand Jain, who purchased crackers worth ₹2,500, said she had bought a small popper and sparklers for children but was waiting for a shopkeeper to bring spinners and fountain bombs from a warehouse.
A seller, who requested anonymity, said his daily sales generally ranged between ₹2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh, increasing to as much as ₹4 lakh a day or two before Diwali.
“We earn around ₹2–2.5 lakh from sales at the shop. Last year, many customers asked us to deliver firecrackers to their homes, and we made more than double what we earn by standing at the shop for over 10 hours. However, online deliveries are risky, so we prefer to take orders only when the sale of firecrackers is permitted,” he said.
However, a street vendor operating next to the shop said he was already accepting delivery orders, subject to a minimum purchase of ₹5,000. Customers would also have to bear any risks associated with delivery.
“No matter which part of Delhi you reside in, I will send crackers. I have already received calls from more than 100 people for online delivery. But have asked them to wait till November 6,” the 28-year-old vendor said.
Several other shopkeepers had stocked firecracker boxes inside their garment and decor stores, keeping only smaller displays near the entrances.
A 33-year-old shop owner said customers were shown conventional crackers only when they specifically asked for them.
“The crackers are there at display. If someone asks us about other crackers we take them inside. We don’t display them as they aren’t green crackers. Frankly, the public is least bothered about whether a cracker is green or not. But to stay out of trouble, we don’t display them,” he said.
Police claim intensified enforcement drives
Delhi Police said they were stepping up operations to identify offenders and seize illegally stocked firecrackers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Niharika Bhatt said the police had registered more than 13 FIRs and seized 1,200 kg of firecrackers in the 12 days since Dussehra.
“In the last 12 days (since Dussehra), we have lodged more than 13 FIRs and seized 1,200 kgs of firecrackers. We have taken out operations at Lahori Gate, Chandni Chowk, Burari, Kotwali area, Bara Hindu Rao area and Subzi Mandi area. We have also sent out pleas to residents and traders to not burst crackers during this time,” Bhatt said.
Separate enforcement figures from other police districts also indicated seizures and action against illegal sellers. In the north-west district, police registered eight cases and seized more than 3,000 kg of firecrackers over 15 days. In outer north Delhi, four cases were registered under the Explosives Act and eight people were arrested, with 2,878 kg of firecrackers seized between October 1 and November 2.
In outer Delhi, police also seized more than 2,100 kg of banned firecrackers and arrested three vendors in a single day during an earlier enforcement drive.
Despite these operations, the open availability of firecrackers across major markets has raised questions about whether the restrictions and enforcement measures are sufficient to prevent the sale of conventional and unauthorised products ahead of Diwali.