Wokha bans firecrackers with barium salts, allows only green crackers

The district administration of Wokha in Nagaland has banned the manufacture, sale, purchase and use of firecrackers containing barium salts across the district with immediate effect, according to a notification from the deputy commissioner's office reported on Monday, November 2.

The order comes days before Diwali and also covers the Christmas and New Year season, the busiest time for firecrackers in Nagaland.

Green crackers only, at designated spots

The notification allows only permissible "green" crackers during festive occasions such as Diwali, Christmas and New Year's Eve, The News Mill reported.

It also changes how celebrations should happen. Instead of individuals bursting crackers wherever they like, celebrations involving firecrackers are to be organised through community participation at pre-identified sites approved by the authorities.

Anyone, whether a person or an organisation, found making, selling or using the banned firecrackers will face penalties under the relevant laws, the order warns.

Based on Supreme Court orders

The ban follows the Supreme Court's directions in the case Arjun Gopal and Others vs Union of India (WP(C) No. 728 of 2015), and the court's subsequent order of October 29, 2021. In those orders the court barred firecrackers containing barium salts and other banned chemicals across the country and allowed only green crackers.

The notification also cites a letter from the Commissioner of Nagaland dated June 1, 2026, on compliance with the court's directions. It lists the health and environmental hazards of firecrackers, including the risk of fire, noise and air pollution.

Why barium is a problem

Barium compounds, usually barium nitrate, give fireworks their bright green colour. When burnt, they release fine particles and toxic compounds into the air that can irritate the lungs and worsen asthma and other breathing problems, which is why the court ordered them out of use.

Green crackers, developed by CSIR's National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), use alternative chemicals and are designed to cut emissions. They carry a green logo and a QR code so buyers can check that they are genuine.

What it means for residents

For families in Wokha, the practical change is that only certified green crackers can be bought, and bursting is expected at the community sites the administration identifies rather than on streets and in courtyards. Shopkeepers will need to make sure their stock does not include barium-based products.

The notification did not list the designated sites. Residents can check with the deputy commissioner's office or local village councils for details.