Delhi’s green crackers market is facing a credibility and enforcement crisis, with an on-ground inspection finding fake QR codes, dubious certification labels and banned conventional fireworks being sold openly across major markets ahead of the festive season.
The Times of India visited markets including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk and the area near Jama Masjid on Wednesday and reported that most firecracker boxes labelled “green”, “eco-friendly” or “pollution free” did not provide verifiable product information. Authentic green crackers are required to carry the logos of CSIR-NEERI and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, along with QR codes leading to registration details and information on chemical composition.
However, QR codes scanned at more than 15 shops often led only to generic webpages carrying a message that the code had been successfully scanned. The report found that only a few boxes, mainly sparklers, appeared to have genuine QR codes. The remaining products either carried questionable labels or provided no information that could establish their composition.
The inspection also found conventional fireworks that are banned in Delhi-NCR under Supreme Court orders. These included series crackers, or ladis, along with chatais, sky shots and loud bombs. Such products did not disclose their chemical composition, while the report noted that some conventional crackers may contain prohibited chemicals such as barium.
At Sadar Bazar, vendors selling illegal fireworks were reportedly lined up along both sides of the road and in the middle lane. Few appeared to have Delhi Police licences. One vendor acknowledged that he did not have a licence to sell crackers. Vendors temporarily packed up when police personnel became visible, but resumed sales after they left, according to the report.
The availability of banned products was also evident near Chandni Chowk metro station, where shoppers carrying large bags of fireworks could be seen entering lanes near Gauri Shankar Temple and Jama Masjid. Products displayed at the market entrance were mostly presented as green crackers, but vendors deeper inside the market openly offered conventional fireworks. One shopkeeper reportedly told customers that green crackers would not provide the same experience as more powerful products.
Prices for banned fireworks varied by quantity. A 5,000-piece ladi was offered for Rs 2,000, while 1,000-shot and 2,000-shot fireworks were priced at Rs 500 and Rs 800 respectively. Packs of 10 bombs cost between Rs 200 and Rs 220. The report said many families buying the products appeared unaware that several boxes carried potentially fake green labels. A homemaker quoted in the report said she bought the crackers because their packaging claimed they were non-polluting.
The findings place the focus on the gap between Delhi’s firecracker restrictions and enforcement at the point of sale. They also show how consumers may be unable to distinguish authorised green crackers from conventional fireworks when certification marks and QR codes are reproduced or made ineffective. The report did not cite a fresh enforcement action or seizure by authorities; the immediate official response and the number of licensed sellers operating in these markets remain unclear.
