Diwali sans crackers for most: 20% dip in noise level

On November 4 (Padwa day),the levels registered during the day were 74.2 dB,as against 72.9 dB in 2012 and 97 dB in 2011. At night,the levels shot down from 80.8 dB in 2011 to 56.8 dB this year.

S C Kollur,scientific officer with MPCB,told Newsline that the levels had come down this year,however,they still cross the permissible limit of 55 dB (day) and 45 dB (night). The decibel levels registered during Diwali on November 3 and 4 were compared to the sound levels registered on November 13 and 14 in 2012 and October 26 and 27 in 2011.

At Shaniwar Wada,too,on November 3,the noise level registered during the day was 57.6 dB,as against 73.3 dB in 2012 and 75.0 dB in 2011. During the night,the levels dropped to 51.4 dB on November 3,as opposed to 64.5 dB in 2012 and 71.7 dB in 2011. On November 4,the levels averaged to 70 dB.

Dr Dasmit Singh,a paediatric surgeon,said increased awareness among students did the trick this year,as the city witnessed a comparatively quieter Diwali.

Places like Laxmi Road,Mandai and Koregaon Park have shown an increase in the noise levels,according to the MPCB analysis. Sound levels recorded during the day on November 4 shows Mandai registered 84.4 dB,as against 80.3 dB in 2012 and 73.9 dBA in 2011.

At Laxmi Road too,the day time levels were registered at 80.7 dB,as opposed to 73.3 dB in 2012 and 69.6 dB in 2011. On November 3,the decibel levels during the day at Laxmi Road were 75.4 dB this year,as against 69.3 dB in 2011.

Koregaon Park also recorded high noise levels on November 4 where the MPCB registered 79.6 dB as against 76.1 dB in 2012 and 71.9 in 2011,during the day. At night,the noise levels were 80.8 dB as against 63.3 dB in 2011. Noise was monitored at 15 locations in the city,including Sarasbaug,Pimpri,Chinchwad,Khadki Bazaar and Yerawada.

Air quality monitoring was also undertaken at various locations. The respirable particulate matter on November 13,2012 was 270 ug/m3,while on November 3 this year,it was 218 ug/m3,Kollur said. On November 4,the respirable particulate matter was 149 ug/m3.

J S Shinde,Managing Director of Surya Hospital,said,“The number of patients this Diwali reduced drastically. We received only seven cases of minor burn injuries.”