Diwali celebrations in Dehradun this year caused marginally lesser noise and air pollution in some areas of the State capital compared to last year. However, some observers point out that the actual level of noise and air pollution on Diwali night would have been much higher than measured in densely populated areas while the authorities measured the pollution in areas not that densely populated. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun will now have to pull up its socks to clear the garbage generated by Diwali festivities.
According to data provided by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), when it comes to air pollution on Thursday night, Clock Tower measured 218.12 Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) compared to 227.03 RSPM last year. Similarly, the air pollution in Nehru Colony area was measured at 333.69 RSPM this year as compared to 397.96 RSPM last year. The recommended limit of RSPM is about 100 RSPM.
The noise pollution measured in various localities of the State capital during Diwali festivities was 72.33 decibles at Clock Tower compared to 74.62 decibles last year; 64.38 decibles at Nehru Colony compared to 68.68 decibles last year; 64.16 decibles at Race Course compared to 68.95 decibles last year; 72.78 decibles at Saharanpur Chowk compared to 73.05 decibles last year; 69.59 decibles at Prince Chowk compared to 69.88 decibles last year and 63.69 decibles at Vasant Vihar compared to 62.09 decibles last year.
The noise level in other localities of the city was measured at 55.21 decibles at Forest Research Institute, 67.60 decibles near the Vidhan Sabha, 74.81 decibles near the Inter State Bus Terminus and 65.10 decibles near Gandhi Park. Though UEPPCB officials are stating that rise in public awareness could be responsible for the comparatively lesser noise and air pollution in some localities of the State capital, observers point out that this decrease is because the pollution levels were not checked in densely populated areas where these would have been much higher than those in other areas with comparatively lesser population. Now the focus will shift to the MCD as the corporation tries to clear the garbage generated during the festivities in Dehradun which generates about 300 metric tonnes of solid municipal waste per day.