Chandigarh: Noise level drops at one place, soars elsewhere

A senior official of the CPCC said that noise level which was recorded post-10 pm indicated that some people were bursting crackers despite the restrictions.

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While noise level recorded a marginal drop at a few monitoring locations this Diwali, it soared in the silence zone of Sector 29 during certain hours. Even as the police went on to enforce the High Court ban not to burst crackers after 9.30 pm, noise level was recorded at a considerable extent from 10 pm to 12 midnight as well, though less than previous year’s Diwali. The level was recorded in the residential area of Sector 22, commercial area of Sector 17 and silence zone of Sector 29 between 6 pm and 12 midnight.

In Sector 22, from 8 pm to 9 pm, the noise level was 82.2db last Diwali which was 80.8 dB this time. From 9 pm to 10 pm, the noise level soared to 84.8 dB but was less than previous year’s Diwali which was 86.3dB. However, from 10 pm to 12 midnight, the noise level recorded from 10 pm to 11 pm and 11 pm to 12 midnight was 75.5dB and 76.0dB which on a normal day, as recorded on October 12, 2017, was only 48.5 dB and 46.8 dB in this zone.

Ironically, in the silence zone in Sector 29, the noise level recorded an increase in certain time period. The noise level from 6 pm to 7 pm soared from 58.4dB last year to 62.2dB this year. While from 7 pm to 8 pm and 8 pm to 9 pm, the noise pollution recorded was 67.5 dB and 75.3dB, respectively, as compared to 65.0 dB and 70.1 dB last year. But there was a dip during the 9 pm to 10 pm hour, with the zone recording just 72.2dB as compared to 80.5 dB last year during the same hour.

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When the time for bursting crackers was over, the noise level from 10 pm to 11 pm and 11 pm to 12 midnight here in the silence zone was recorded as 62.0 dB and 56.1 dB as compared to a normal day with 57 dB and 54.8 dB.

In the Sector 17 commercial zone, the noise pollution level soared during 6 pm to 7 pm with 56.9dB recorded this year as compared to 55.6 dB last Diwali. However, at all other hours, the noise level dropped down by 4 to 5 notches. Here too, the noise level recorded from 10 pm to 12 pm was 54.9 dB and 48.6 dB which was more than a normal day’s noise level.

A senior official of the CPCC said that noise level which was recorded post-10 pm indicated that some people were bursting crackers despite the restrictions.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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