Hyderabad: As the festival of lights approaches, green crackers are in high demand this year. Many people are choosing eco-friendly alternatives to protect the environment.
Across the city, cracker stalls have popped up in almost every corner. With the growing demand for eco-friendly crackers and the Supreme Court’s ban on synthetic firecrackers, most licensed dealers are now selling only Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-approved green crackers. Production of synthetic firecrackers has also been limited.
Some traders have noticed that, despite the fact that green crackers are slightly more expensive than synthetic ones, consumers are still willing to spend on them. However, a few non-licensed dealers are still selling synthetic firecrackers, as they are cheaper. There has been a 15% to 20% increase in firecracker prices this year. For example, crackers that used to cost Rs 1,000 now sell for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300.
Raghavendra Choudhary, from Hyderabad Fireworks in Kukatpally, shared that last year, the demand for green crackers was limited because people weren’t as aware. Now, due to the Supreme Court’s ban on barium-filled firecrackers, green crackers have become the popular choice. He explained that green crackers emit 30% less pollution and are safer because they don’t contain harmful chemicals. The chemical composition has also changed—from using barium nitrate to now using mono chloride salts.
Manik Rao, owner of Bhavani Crackers, mentioned that this year, all licensed dealers are selling only green firecrackers, in line with the Supreme Court’s orders. Last year, there was confusion about identifying synthetic and green firecrackers, but now it’s easy to tell because all green cracker boxes have a CSIR stamp.
Additionally, many Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) are actively promoting the use of green crackers through awareness campaigns. These efforts aim to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for everyone in the community.
