With Diwali round the corner, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and NGO Awaaz Foundation tested firecrackers for compliance with noise standards at RCF ground in Chembur on Wednesday.
Around 25 types of crackers — from different manufacturers — were tested and the noise levels were found to be within the permissible limits. However, the levels of air pollution caused as a result of bursting them will continue to be high as there are no parameters to keep it under check.
The noise standards for fire-crackers — notified by the Environment (Protection) Rules, 2006 — state that the manufacture, sale and use of fire-crackers generating noise level exceeding 125 decibels at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting is prohibited.
The MPCB has been conducting noise level tests for various brands of firecrackers, purchased from the local market, for the past few years. However, it does not have the authority to take any action if the noise level is found to exceed the permissible limits.
"MPCB is just the technical department. Our main objective of conducting the tests is public awareness. We send the reports of the tests to the Department of Explosives and the concerned authorities, who are liable to take further action," said VM Motghare, joint director, Air Quality, MPCB.
Awaaz Foundation has been involved with the MPCB in conducting these tests since 2010. Sumaira Abdulali, convenor of the NGO, said: "The firecrackers should ideally be banned, given the noise and air pollution that they cause. It is unfortunate that no action is taken by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation in this regard."
