CSIR develops green firecrackers

New Delhi: In an attempt to reduce air pollution caused by bursting of firecrackers, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a set of new firecrackers that promise to be less polluting without compromising on the sound or light effect.

While announcing the development Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said, "The CSIR developed firecrackers are environment-friendly as well as pocket friendly too. The manufacturers wouldn't have to make any changes into their manufacturing units as CSIR-developed firecrackers could be manufactured in the existing set and it would reduce cost of production."

In reply to a question as when these green crackers would be introduced in the retail market, the minister said, "Several manufacturers have shown their interest in it and after the completion of licensing procedures, it would hit the stalls. As our scientists have developed the formulation in less than a year and the final product would also be rolled out very soon."

"The CSIR scientists have developed less polluting firecrackers which 15-20 per cent cheaper than the conventional ones", Vardhan said, adding that these crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe thermite cracker (STAR).

The new crackers have been developed by scientists of two national labs - Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) based in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur.

"The researchers at CECRI have developed green crackers by modifying the chemical formulations for flower pots, 'jil jil' and so-called atom bombs. Crackers essentially comprise of alkali nitrates, aluminum powder of different grain sizes and in some cases a binder to enhance luminescence. Aluminum is used as a primary heat source and to produce the flash," the minister told reporters.

"Researchers replaced aluminum with magnesium to reduce ignition temperature and subsequently minimise particulate matter coming from the cracker. Field trials have also been conducted at Sivakasi (Tamil Nadu), which is a major firework manufacturing centres in the country," Vardhan said.

The minister further said that the new products had reduced emission of particulate matter and toxic gases, had less smoke and was less noisy and the particulate matter mission was reduced by 25 to 30 per cent.

Highlighting that the Indian fireworks industry is over 6000-crore worth of annual turnover and provides employment opportunities to over 5 lakh families directly or indirectly, the minister said that this endeavour of CSIR aims at addressing the pollution concerns as well as protecting the livelihoods of those involved in this trade.