This Diwali was less noise, more smoke

Lajpat Nagar was noisiest: Pollution board

Noise level declined in Delhi this Diwali as compared to last year, but the air pollution rose marginally due to more smoke-producing firecrackers.

A report by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) board released on Wednesday also attributed high air pollution level during Diwali to adverse meteorological conditions in and around the Capital.

“Air pollutant levels during 2012 Diwali were found to be higher as compared to Diwali-2011, which can be attribu-ted to adverse meteorological conditions or bursting of less noisy but more smoke-producing crackers,” a CPCB official said.

While Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad showed a decreasing trend in real time noise level, no change in sound-level is observed in Mumbai, the report said.

“However, sound level at Lucknow and Chennai showed slight variation in comparison to Diwali-2011,” it added.

CPCB this year conducted the real time continuous ambient noise monitoring at 35 locations in seven cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

For higher air pollution level, the report listed out some meteorological conditions such as decrease in average temperature, low wind speed, less night time mixing height and increase in humidity profile from 39 per cent in 2011 to 68 per cent this year.

“Sulphur dioxide concentration on Diwali-2012 increased at nine locations. Nitrogen dioxide concentration increased at all the locations as compared to 2011. Particulate Matter levels have also shown an increasing trend at all locations on Diwali this year as compared to 2011,” the report said.

Last year, Diwali was celebrated on November 26 and the 24-hourly average temperatures was recorded at 26.4 degree Celsius. This year, CPCB has recorded the 24-hourly average temperature at 20.2 degree Celsius.

“Increased Particulate Matter (PM-10) values in general may be attributed to adverse meteorological conditions such as decrease in temperature, mixing height, wind speed and increase in relative humidity profile,” the report said.

In Capital, the maximum noise level was recorded at Lajpat Nagar at 81 decibels followed by Kamla Nagar at 80 decibels. The ambient noise-level monitoring was carried out at nine locations here between 6 pm to mid night.

CPCB had also conducted pre-Diwali monitoring of noise and air level to compare it with the data received on the Diwali day.