The Green Diwali campaigns in the City Beautiful again went for a toss this year… The city witnessed a noisier and most polluted Diwali as compared to the previous years.
According to the data released by the UT Pollution Control Board, the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) exceeded the permissible limits in all the areas and was much higher than last year’s Diwali.
This year, air and noise pollution was observed at three places — Sectors 17, 22 and 29 on the day of Diwali and a week before the festival of Diwali.
The maximum air pollution was found in Sector 22 while minimum air pollution was found in City Centre Sector 17.
As per the data, the RSPM levels of 450 µg/m3 at Sector 22, 409 µg/m3 in Sector 29 and 165 µg/m3 in Sector 17 was registered on the day of Diwali on November 3 against the levels of 280 µg/m3 in Sector 22, 349 µg/m3 in Sector 29 and 207 µg/m3 in Sector 17 recorded during 2012 Diwali.
On October 27, a week before this year’s Diwali, the RSPM levels were recorded 109 µg/m3 in Sector 22, 131 µg/m3 in Sector 29 and 135 µg/m3 in Sector 17.
The air and noise pollution levels in city’s heart Sector 17 was less as compared to other Sectors 22 and 29 this Diwali.
Higher noise level of 77.5 decibel was recorded in Sector 29 from 9 pm to 10 pm this Diwali. last year, the noise pollution level was 75.9 decibel in Sector 29 at the same time.
An official of the UT Pollution Control Board said that RSPM levels are recorded lower in Sector 17 as compared to last year and has increased in Sector 22 and Sector 29 as compared to last year’s Diwali.
The official said that in comparison to the previous year, the noise level is also higher between 8 pm to 10 pm at all three locations of Sector 22, Sector 29 and Sector 17. The maximum noise pollution was found in Sector 29 between 9 pm-10 pm while minimum noise pollution was found in Sector 17 between 9 pm-10 pm.
According to the data, high noise level of 76.4 decibel from 8 pm to 9 pm and 76.6 decibel from 9 pm to 10 pm was recorded in Sector 22. In city’s commercial complex — Sector 17 — level of noise pollution was recorded 74.1 decibel from 8 pm to 9 pm and 69.3 db from 9 pm to 10 pm. The normal noise levels in the city stay at around 60 decibel.
“The sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels at all the locations were within the permissible limits. And, oxides of nitrogen levels at all the locations were also within permissible limits during Diwali,” he added.