Cracker pollution on the rise in city

Ramkrishan Upadhyay  

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, October 18 

While it will be interesting  to know  the level of air and noise pollution this Diwali following the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, the past four years witnessed a continuous increase in their level. 

As per the Chandigarh  Pollution Control  Committee, Which recorded the air and noise pollution at Sectors 17, 22 and  29, the noise level was  recorded at 76 decibel  in 2013,  82. 9 decibel in 2014,  85.8  decibel in 2015 and  86.3  decibel in 2016 in Sector  22.

The noise level soared at Sectors 17 and 29 too. The highest noise level was recorded from 9 pm to 10 pm on every Diwali. The same  trend was noticed with regard to the air pollution. 

The respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) was recorded  at 218  in 2014,  which  increased  to 316  in 2016 in Sector 22. It was recorded at 450 in 2013. An official of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee said the RSPM,  which affected breathing,  witnessed an increase at all three locations. The maximum  air pollution  was recorded in Sector 29.   

As per experts, the pollution level goes up by 30 to 40  per cent every Diwali.