Steep hike in noise pollution on Diwali night in district

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 9

Despite tall claims of a greener Diwali this year by the PPCB, the noise pollution stats released in the district do not seem to be adding up to the claims. A substantial increase in the noise pollution levels was noted from the pre-Diwali noise pollution levels this Diwali. There is also a rise in pollution in sensitive areas compared to the last year.

The pollution levels in all these areas were significantly higher as compared to recordings taken by the PPCB a day before the festival of lights.

While sensitive areas saw a nine-point rise in the noise pollution on Diwali this year as compared to pre-Diwali recordings this year (taken a day before Diwali), commercial areas recorded a five-point rise and residential areas recorded a whopping 11-point rise in noise pollution on Diwali in the city.

The noise pollution level in sensitive, commercial and residential areas on Diwali this year was 55.96 Leq db (A), 65. 38 Leq db (A) and 62.94 Leq db (A), respectively. The pre-Diwali recordings of sensitive, commercial and residential areas were – 47.71 Leq db (A), 60.33 Leq db (A) and 51.26 Leq db (A), respectively.

Meanwhile, even as on Diwali, the sensitive areas of the city recorded an almost two-point rise compared to the previous year, a five-point reduction was observed in commercial areas while in residential areas it was almost the same. However, those in corresponding areas in last year it was recorded at 54 Leq db (A), 70 Leq db (A) and 63 Leq db (A), respectively.

While crackers continued to be burst late in the night, residents also clearly did not abide by the SC guidelines on Diwali.