Noise pollution increased this Diwali at commercial localities of the state capital in comparison to last year despite the government discouraging bursting of firecrackers and issuing strict guidelines to put a check on pollution, sound levels measured by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) at different locations in the city from 6pm to 12am highlighted. However, noise pollution dropped significantly in residential areas and silence zones but still crossed the permissible limit, JSPCB data further stated.
The pollution watchdog had placed sound measuring devices at four points – one silence area, one residential area and two commercial areas – to measure the change in the decibel level on human ear during Diwali.
As per figures calculated by JSPCB, the average sound in Albert Ekka Chowk, a commercial area, from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday was 80.5 decibel against 73.3 decibel on Diwali in 2019. The average sound pollution from 9pm to 10 pm in the locality was 81.3 decibel against 78.5 decibel last year.
In Kutchehry Chowk locality, the decibel count from 8pm to 9pm was 78.7 against last year’s 75.4. From 9pm to 10pm, 79 decibel sound was produced in the area against 76.7 decibel in 2019. Both Albert Ekka Chowk and Kutchehry Chowk fall in the category of commercial areas.