Dehradun city which was once famous for its greenery and serenity is losing its tranquility due to consistent rise in the noise and air pollution levels.Apart from the routine noise and pollution levels, the crackers burst on Diwali night cause a sharp spike in the pollution levels here.
Every year the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) measures the noise and air pollution levels in different areas of the State capital.
This year the board officials have scheduled three-day monitoring in the city on October 29, November 3 and 4. The first monitoring will be done one day prior to Diwali, second on the festival day itself and the third observation will be carried on the very next day after the festival.
Officials revealed that as part of their monitoring drive three instruments have also been set to monitor the level of air pollution in the city this Diwali.These instruments will be set up at three main sites including Nehru Colony, Clock Tower and Raipur.
UEPPCB officials have also marked seven important places of the city to monitor the noise pollution level. Survey Chowk (Commercial area), Doon Hospital (Silence Zone), Race Course near MlA House (Residential area), Gandhi Park (Silence Zone), Clock Tower (Commercial area), CMI Chowk (Commercial Zone) are the places where officials will monitor the noise level, informed UEPPCB member secretary Vinod Singhal.
Several officials of the department will be working round the clock in these areas to record the air pollution level as well as the rising decibels of noise.
The member secretary stated that every year some percentage of increase is recorded in the noise and air pollution levels especially during Diwali in Dehradun.
He informed that while measuring the air pollution level, rise in several toxic components including Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and the level of some other harmful contents will be recorded.
UEPPCB regional officer VK Joshi revealed that the officials along with the senior board members have already started their planning regarding the monitoring drive to be conducted during Diwali. The board has decided to improve the monitoring this year and will include some new places in the exercise.