Delhi clears 168 temporary licences for Green Crackers ahead of Diwali

Delhi authorities approved 168 temporary licences for selling NEERI-approved green firecrackers ahead of Diwali. The sales will continue till Saturday at designated city locations.

Officials said 188 applications were received for temporary permits. Of these, authorities cleared 168 and rejected 10. Shahdara topped the list with 26 licences, followed by East Delhi with 25, and North East Delhi with 21. North Delhi recorded 18 approvals.

Meanwhile, the district administration and Delhi Police have formed joint patrolling teams. Sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) will lead these teams to ensure full compliance with Supreme Court orders. The teams will check that only NEERI and PESO-approved crackers with QR codes are sold and used.

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, permitted the sale of green firecrackers for three days — from October 18 to 20. It allowed bursting between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on October 19 and 20. The top court said the relaxation aims to balance festive traditions with pollution control measures.

In line with the order, Delhi Police must process all temporary sale licences within two days. This quick clearance will ensure sellers are ready before Diwali, officials said. After the festival, retailers will have two days to return or safely dispose of unsold stock. Restrictions on firecracker sales will resume immediately afterward.

Diwali falls on October 20 this year. Only NEERI-approved green firecrackers can be sold or used across Delhi-NCR. Officials clarified that ‘Ladi’ crackers remain banned. Each approved cracker must carry a QR code for authenticity verification.

Authorities warned that any shop found selling non-compliant products will face immediate closure and licence suspension. Police officials said enforcement will remain strict. Foot patrols will cover sensitive areas to detect illegal sales or unauthorised bursting.

All police stations have been instructed to stay alert, especially in zones with past violations. Local patrols will increase in residential and market areas to ensure crackers are used only during allowed hours.

Officials said violators will face strict action. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward banned firecrackers.

To strengthen monitoring, additional beat staff and enforcement teams will be deployed in the coming days. The teams will respond immediately to any breach.

Patrolling teams include the local tehsildar, the station house officer (SHO), a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) official, and a representative from the fire department. These teams will inspect all licensed sites daily. They will collect random samples for testing by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The ban on selling crackers through e-commerce platforms will continue. Officials said online sales violate the court’s guidelines and hinder pollution control efforts.

Through these steps, the Delhi government aims to ensure a cleaner, safer Diwali. Officials said strict coordination between agencies will help maintain air quality while allowing limited celebrations in line with court-approved norms.