India, Oct. 19 -- The Delhi Government's claim of a strictly-monitored green crackers sale ahead of Diwali has fallen flat on its face. A visit to two designated ares for the sale of firecrackers - Sadar Bazaar and near Red Fort Metro Gate No 2 - reveals that eco-friendly Diwali is more paperwork than practice.

Hundreds of small vendors, at both the markets, were found selling firecrackers openly, many on temporary push carts, with not a trace of enforcement in sight. Despite repeated assurances by the Government that only QR-coded, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)-approved green crackers will be sold, what is happening in these markets is the exact opposite.

When asked about "green crackers," not a single s...