Despite awareness, city witnesses more pollution

After seeing a dip in noise pollution on Diwali over the past three years, the city went back to square one this year.Despite several organisations and schoolchildren spreading awareness against use of firecrackers, high levels of noise pollution rocked the commercial, residential and sensitive zones of the city

After seeing a dip in noise pollution on Diwali over the past three years, the city went back to square one this year.
Despite several organisations and schoolchildren spreading awareness against use of firecrackers, high levels of noise pollution rocked the commercial, residential and sensitive zones of the city.

Noise levels were recorded after every hour between 6 pm and 12 am in different areas, including near Verka Milk Plant (residential zone), near Vishwakarma Chowk (commercial zone) and near Sheela Hospital (sensitive zone) on Thursday.

Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chief environmental officer Gulshan Rai said, “Average noise level was recorded at 75.48 decibels (dB) in residential area, while 78.35 dB was recorded in commercial area. Besides, the sensitive area witnessed noise level of 74.78 dB.”

In 2013, the noise level was 77.8 dB in commercial area, 70.4 dB in residential area and 72.6 dB in sensitive area. The areas surveyed were the same as this year.

According to Rai, the noise level fluctuated between 55.6-91.1 dB in residential area, 66.4-89.4 dB in commercial area and 50.8-88.4 dB in sensitive area (near hospitals) this year, adding that report of air samples would come on Monday.

Abhijeet Singh, a student, said, “It is shocking thing that despite awareness, noise pollution has increased this year. The administration should ban the sale of high-sound firecrackers and also check quality of other firecrackers.”

Noisy affair
(in decibles)

Area 2012 2013 2014
Residential 74.1 70.4 75.48
Commercial 80.5 77.8 78.35
Sensitive 73.4 72.6 74.78