The noise pollution level across all the 15 areas of the city monitored by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) crossed the maximum permissible limits during the three days of Diwali.
This time, the noise pollution at Koregaon Park, Kothrud, Pimpri and Swargate was relatively higher than last year. In 2012, the areas like Shivajinagar, Laxmi Road and Karve Road had recorded the highest noise levels with the maximum being recorded at Ahmednagar Road 97.7 dB.
MPCB officials claimed that they had made efforts to control the noise pollution in the region but the norms were violated due to rising number of firecrackers burst during the festival. “We tried to control the sale of firecrackers that exceeded the permissible noise level limits. The noise levels rose in these areas because the number of firecrackers that were burst was more, though the noise emitted from the crackers was less,” said Anil Mohekar, regional officer, MPCB Pune.
On November 3, the noise levels were maximum between 8 pm and 9 pm in all the 15 areas. It was highest in Koregaon Park at 104.6 dB followed by 102 dB in Pimpri, 98.9 dB in Kothrud, 93.4 dB in Swargate, 90.8 dB on Satara Road and 90.1 dB in Khadki.
On November 4, the maximum noise levels were recorded between 9 pm and 10 pm with 93.7 dB in Mandai, 91.8 dB in Swargate, 91.6 dB at Laxmi Road, 89.6 dB in Koregaon Park, 89.4 dB at Satara Road and 89.1 dB at Shaniwarwada.
On November 5, the noise levels recorded between 7 pm to 8 pm were highest with 97.1 dB in Koregaon Park, 94.6 dB in Kothrud, 88.8 dB on Laxmi Road, 86.9 dB in Saras Baug, 84.2 dB in Mandai and 84 dB in Swargate.
MPCB officials linked the noise pollution levels to firecracker sales in particular areas. “The noise levels in areas like Koregaon Park, Karve Road etc. were much higher this year because of the sale of firecrackers in these particular areas. The sale was high in the areas where the pollution was higher,” said Mohekar.
Maximum noise levels in dB
Area Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5
Shivajinagar 89.2 86.1 82.4
Swargate 93.4 91.8 84.0
KoregoanPark 104.6 89.6 97.1
Mandai 84.6 93.7 84.2
Satara Road 90.8 89.4 83.6
Karve Road 88.6 87.0 77.5
Yerawada 86.1 76.1 80.1
Khadki 90.1 81.8 79.6
Kothrud 98.9 79.4 94.6
Shaniwarwada 85 89.1 78.3
Laxmi Road 85.5 91.6 88.8
Saras Baug 85 83.7 86.9
Pimpri 102 83.3 79.1
Chinchwad 84.7 81.5 78.7
Thergaon 82.9 83.0 82.1
