India court eases Diwali firecracker ban despite pollution

New Delhi: India s top court on Wednesday permitted the use of some firecrackers in New Delhi during the Diwali festival, easing a blanket ban even as...

New Delhi: India's top court on Wednesday permitted the use of some firecrackers in New Delhi during the Diwali festival, easing a blanket ban even as the capital battles unhealthy winter air pollution.

The Supreme Court said the controlled use of the less-polluting "green firecrackers" -- developed by federal research institutes to reduce particulate and gas emission -- would be allowed for limited periods between Saturday and Tuesday.

During Diwali, a major Hindu festival of lights, widespread bursting of firecrackers adds to the already high pollution levels in Delhi.

The city, home to some 30 million people, routinely ranks among the world's most polluted capitals, with thick smog shrouding the city each winter.

During the peak pollution period, concentrations of PM2.5 -- tiny airborne particles that penetrate deep into the lungs -- regularly surge to more than 60 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily limit.