India's environment and science minister Dr Harsh Vardhan asserts that India has now developed green firecrackers. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or CSIR has developed India's first green crackers that cost 30 percent less, are 30 percent less polluting, eliminates use of barium and reduces use of toxic aluminium. Particulate matter is also less by 30 to 40 Percent less as compared to conventional crackers. However, these will not be available in bulk for this Diwali.