Nagpur: The city documented substantial noise level infractions across all 10 monitoring locations identified by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) during Diwali celebrations. Deshpande Layout in East Nagpur again acquired the dubious distinction of being the most cacophonous on Diwali and pre-Diwali days.
Industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones all exhibited noise levels surpassing the stipulated limits as per the hourly data.
Deshpande Layout was succeeded by Civil Lines and Kalamna on Diwali night, though these areas were comparatively subdued a week prior to the festival according to the MPCB report.
The observations distinctly indicate that the Bombay high court mandated restriction on firecracker bursting between 8pm and 10pm remained unenforced by local authorities. The pyrotechnics continued till late at night on Diwali and subsequent days, the data indicates.
MPCB regional officer Hema Deshpande informed TOI that the elevated noise levels were attributed to firecracker bursting. However, Deshpande acknowledged MPCB's limited capacity beyond raising awareness about the adverse effects on human health and ecology.
According to Noise Pollution Control Rules 2000, noise levels must not exceed 50 to 75 decibels during daytime and 40 to 70 decibels at night-time contingent upon zone classification. The daytime decibel measurements are recorded through noise meters between 6am and 10pm, and night-time between 10pm and 6am.
The MPCB monitored noise levels primarily for Diwali celebrations on October 31. The meters were activated on October 24 to establish a comparison. The pre-Diwali readings indicate higher noise levels than permissible limits across most monitoring locations, suggesting excessive noise from vehicular traffic and construction activities.
On October 31, the maximum day/night noise levels reached 88.2 dB(A)/96.6 dB(A) during night at Deshpande Layout monitoring point. The maximum day/night noise level was 89.2dB(A)/83.6 dB(A) at the same location on October 24.
Medical Square, a silence zone owing to GMCH and several hospitals, registered high decibel levels of 83.5 dB(A)/79.2 dB(A).
Officials noted that all zones are intermingled throughout the city, complicating specific noise permission applications. Despite deploying noise meters in predominantly residential areas, elevated levels were recorded across all ten locations.