NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said its order on use of green crackers during Diwali was meant for Delhi-NCR and not pan-India while modifying its ruling fixing 8 pm to 10 pm timeline for bursting firecrackers on Diwali. The top court said timings for bursting firecrackers in places like Tamil Nadu, Puducherry will be changed but cannot exceed two hours a day.

A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also observed that the direction for permitting the use of green crackers was meant for the Delhi-NCR region and was not pan India. The counsel appearing for firecracker manufacturers told the court that it was not possible to come up with green crackers this Diwali since there was no set composition for manufacturing them.

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court asking it to extend the permitted time for bursting of crackers on Diwali. Tamil Nadu said that allowing bursting of crackers between 4.30 a.m and 6.30 a.m. as well as 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. would facilitate both the Tamils and people from other parts of the country residing in the state to celebrate Diwali according to their respective practices.

The Supreme Court last week permitted the sale and manufacture of low emission "green" firecrackers countrywide and fixed a two-hour time period from 8 pm to 10 pm for bursting them on Diwali and other festivals.  Further, on the eve of Christmas and New Year's night, fireworks will be allowed between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am.

The reduced emission firecrackers would involve low emission sound and light emitting functional crackers with particulate matter reduction by 30 to 35 per cent coupled with significant reduction in nitrogen Oxide and sulphur oxide. However, this will be subject to approval by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The court also prohibited the manufacture, sale and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or 'laris') and specified that e-commerce websites should not accept any online orders and effect online sales.

"Any such e-commerce companies found selling crackers online will be hauled up for contempt of court and the court may also pass orders of monetary penalties," it said.

The court said that authorities in Delhi would identify common community areas for the bursting of firecrackers and ensure awareness among people about it. It also recommended that other states should also explore the feasibility of community participation in bursting firecrackers.

The court directed police station chiefs to be personally responsible for ensuring the compliance of its order.

(With inputs from agencies)