Guwahati: While the city’s ambience was not entirely free of the joyous clamour of firecrackers, a positive shift towards quieter celebrations was noticeable. However, the permissible decibel limit was still exceeded by quite some margin in different areas of the city.
The Assam State Pollution Control Board (PCB) reported a heartening trend of reduced noise pollution compared to previous years. It claimed that the success can be attributed to the awareness campaigns, particularly those targeting the city’s youth, inspiring a sense of responsibility towards environmental protection.

To accurately gauge the impact of firecrackers on the city’s soundscape, the PCB strategically monitored noise levels in three distinct zones – residential, commercial, and silence. Ulubari and Rehabari represented residential areas, Ganeshguri, a bustling commercial hub, and Panbazar, home to the high court, hospitals, and educational institutions, served as the silence zone.
The results were encouraging. Both residential areas and the silence zone experienced lower noise levels compared to the previous year. While Ganeshguri did see a slight increase, the PCB attributed this to the area’s inherent commercial activity rather than solely to firecrackers.
Gautam Kumar Mishra, additional chief environmental scientist, highlighted that factors like increased vehicle movement and larger crowds also contributed to the noise levels in this vibrant commercial centre.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic played an unexpected role in noise reduction. The year 2020, marked by lockdowns and restrictions, saw a significant dip in noise pollution. While 2021 witnessed a slight increase as life gradually returned to normalcy, the overall trend remained positive.
Those in the business of selling firecrackers attribute less noisy Diwali night to higher prices of firecrackers. Additionally, after the Supreme Court had issued the directive, most of the shops had been selling crackers which contain low barium nitrate, resulting in low sound output.
Firecracker sellers also observed a change in consumer behaviour. Chandan Sharma, a vendor in Fancy Bazar, noted that while the spirit of celebration remained, customers were more mindful of their spending on firecrackers this year, likely due to increased prices.