Records show levels of air, noise pollution exceed permissible limits on Diwali

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

While traders, schools, business houses and various NGOs had been promoting eco-friendly Diwali by holding anti-cracker campaigns in the run-up to the festival, levels of air and noise pollution exceeded the permissible limit on the Diwali night during the last four years.

Though the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) is installing equipment at three different locations to record air and noise pollution levels, it would be a tough task for the authorities to keep the pollution levels under the permissible limit.

The locations where the CPCC will install its equipment include residential, commercial and silence zone. The CPCC is collecting data on three locations following the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Equipment to record pollution level would be installed on three days from October 10 to 12. The data would be collected between 8 pm and 10 pm. 

While noise pollution is measured by the sound-level meter, the SPM and the RSPM-level meters are used to gauge air pollution.

Till 2011, the data from as many as seven different locations was gathered. But since 2012, the UT is collecting data from three locations: residential, commercial and silence zones.

Charanjiv Singh, president, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said they have already urged the members of their association to minimise use of crackers on Diwali. Raj Kumar Pal, president, Property Consultants Association, Chandigarh, said they told their members to celebrate the festival of lights in an eco-friendly manner. “The office-bearers of the association also send SMSes and messages through WhatsApp to members to celebrate green Diwali,” he said.