NEW DELHI: Despite a complete ban on firecrackers, Delhi recorded a noisier Diwali this year as compared to last year, with seven out of the 10 real-time monitoring stations recording an increase in noise levels, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
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Only three stations — ITO, Anand Vihar and Dilshad Garden — recorded a slight drop in night-time noise levels as compared to last Diwali. A similar trend was observed during the day, with six out of 10 locations recording more noise as compared to last year.
The highest decibel level was recorded during the day at Dilshad Garden at 74 dB(A), a little less than last year’s 76 dB(A). At Punjabi Bagh and Mandir Marg, the noise levels rose from 55 dB(A) last year on Diwali night to 61 dB(A) this year. At NSIT Dwarka, it rose from 58 dB(A) last year to 63 dB(A) this year, and at RK Puram, from 60 dB(A) to 63 dB(A).
During the day, the highest spike in noise levels were seen at Dwarka, from 56 dB(A) last year to 64 dB(A) this year. RK Puram, meanwhile, recorded the biggest day-time drop in noise levels from 76 dB(A) last year to 64 dB(A) this year.
CPCB measures day-time noise levels from 6am until 10pm and night-time readings from 10pm until 6am. An increase in both readings indicates that not only did Delhi burst more crackers this year, more were burst past 10pm.
CPCB also monitored data manually at six more locations, recording an increase in noise levels at Lajpat Nagar, Mayur Vihar Phase-II and Janakpuri.
At Pitampura and Okhla, it recorded a drop in noise levels this year, while it remained the same at Kamla Nagar.
The standard for acceptable noise levels in residential areas is 55 dB(A) during daytime and 45 dB(A) at night. Industrial locations like Okhla have a day-time norm of 75 dB(A) and 70 dB(A) at night.
While Diwali Day was much noisier, the pre-Diwali day readings, gathered five days before Diwali, indicated there was a decrease in noise levels at seven out of the 10 real-time stations.