PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 26: Diwali celebrations in the steel city crossed permissible noise levels this year in violation of norms, according to a report of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB).
If the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) limits noise levels to 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels during the night in commercial areas, Jamshedpur recorded levels above these limits as per the report of the Adityapur-based regional office of JSPCB which compiled data before Diwali (October 18) and on Diwali (October 24).
The commercial hub of Sakchi was the noisiest. Sakchi roundabout registered 85.3 decibels between 8 pm and 9 pm on Diwali night, 96.6 decibels after 10 pm and 78.7 decibels between 11 pm and midnight. The readings were better than last year when it recorded around 90 decibels.
The findings of the survey revealed that on October 18, Sakchi roundabout had recorded 70 decibels between 8 pm and 10 pm and 59.8 decibels between 8 pm and 9 pm. Between 11 pm and midnight, it recorded 58.2 decibels.
At another commercial centre, Bistupur (near Regal Ground), the decibel level recorded from 8 pm to 10 pm was 79.7, which was less than the 85 decibels recorded during Diwali last year. The area logged 84.4 decibels between 11 pm and 12 pm.
The silence zone near the new civil court at Bhuiyandih recorded 75.5 decibels between 8 pm and 9 pm and 69.2 decibels between 9 pm and 10 pm.
The survey carried out prior to Diwali on October 18 found 66.7 decibels between 8 pm and 9 pm and 67.1 decibels between 9 pm and 10 pm. Between 11 pm and midnight, the new civil court area recorded 69.2 decibels.
The residential area of Indira Chowk at Adityapur recorded 80.5 decibels between 10 pm and 11 pm. The area clocked 80.5 decibels from 10 pm to 11 pm and 66.9 decibels between 11 pm and midnight.
“We collected decibel data from Sakchi and Bistupur as they are commercial areas, from the new civil court in Bhuiyandih as it is a silence zone and from Indira Chowk (in Adityapur) as it is a residential area,” said JSPCB’s regional officer Jitendra Singh.
He admitted that the residents of steel city and neighbouring Adityapur had flouted the directives of JSPCB.
The findings of the survey were sent to the JSPCB headquarters in Ranchi for necessary follow-up action.
The regional office has also collected data related to ambient air quality on Diwali, the report of which would be released later.
