Once again, the unchecked explosion of firecrackers during Diwali has cast New Delhi into the grips of a hazardous gas chamber, exemplified by a staggering air quality index exceeding 400 on Monday morning. Despite the recent clarification by the Supreme Court that the ban on certain chemicals in firecrackers is applicable across the nation, the orders were flouted in various cities, from Delhi and Gurugram to Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Banned firecrackers found their way into the market, sold and ignited with impunity, rendering the court's efforts ineffective. The court's initial move in October 2018 to limit the production and sale of firecrackers to environmentally friendlyandreduced-emissionvarieties fell short.Evenafter claims by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research of developing cost-effective, less-polluting firecrackers, the ground reality remains bleak. Highly polluting crackers, including illegally imported Chinese products with a deceptive 'Made in India' label, continue to inundate the market. Moreover, doubts persist regarding the actual efficacy of so-called green alternatives in mitigating pollution. The designated two-hour window for bursting crackers also proved futile due to lax enforcement. It is abundantly clear that the campaign forthe 'greenification' of firecrackers has not yielded the desired results. To address the urgent issue of toxic air quality, nothing short of a comprehensive ban on all types of firecrackers is warranted. While the Supreme Court has refrained from taking this decisive step out of respect for religious traditions and sentiments, it is imperative to recognize that preserving an unhealthy tradition at the expense of exposing people to hazardous air is untenable in the interest of public welfare. Enforcing a blanket ban should be accompanied by a well-thought-outpackagetocompensatethefireworksindustry and facilitate the rehabilitation of its labor force. Striking a balance between public health concerns and economic considerations is undeniably challenging, but the imperative to safeguard the well-being of citizens must take precedence. The time has come for a resolute and unwavering stance against the environmental toll of firecrackers, in pursuit of a safer, healthier future for all. “Banning Firecrackers for the Greater Good” Once again, the unchecked explosion of firecrackers during Diwali has cast New Delhi into the grips of a hazardous gas chamber, exemplified by a staggering air quality index exceeding 400 on Monday morning. Despite the recent clarification by the Supreme Court that the ban on certain chemicals in firecrackers is applicable across the nation, the orders were flouted in various cities, from Delhi and Gurugram to Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Banned firecrackers found their way into the market, sold and ignited with impunity, rendering the court's efforts ineffective. The court's initial move in October 2018 to limit the production and sale of firecrackers to environmentally friendlyandreduced-emissionvarieties fell short.Evenafter claims by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research of developing cost-effective, less-polluting firecrackers, the ground reality remains bleak. Highly polluting crackers, including illegally imported Chinese products with a deceptive 'Made in India' label, continue to inundate the market. Moreover, doubts persist regarding the actual efficacy of so-called green alternatives in mitigating pollution. The designated two-hour window for bursting crackers also proved futile due to lax enforcement. It is abundantly clear that the campaign for the 'greenification' of firecrackers has not yielded the desired results. To address the urgent issue of toxic air quality, nothing short of a comprehensive ban on all types of firecrackers is warranted. While the Supreme Court has refrained from taking this decisive step out of respect for religious traditions and sentiments, it is imperative to recognize that preserving an unhealthy tradition at the expense of exposing people to hazardous air is untenable in the interest of public welfare. Enforcing a blanket ban should be accompanied by a well-thought-outpackagetocompensatethefireworksindustry and facilitate the rehabilitation of its labor force. Striking a balance between public health concerns and economic considerations is undeniably challenging, but the imperative to safeguard the well-being of citizens must take precedence. Thetimehas comeforaresoluteandunwaveringstance against the environmental toll of firecrackers, in pursuit of a safer, healthier future for all.