Noise Pollution

On Diwali, 22 out of 31 monitored areas reported higher noise levels than last year, with only nine areas showing a reduction

Delhiites burst firecrackers on Diwali despite a ban on it but noise pollution levels in the city showed a mixed trend as compared to last year, a pollution board said. According to a report by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi's noise level recorded on the day of Diwali saw a rise as compared to last year. The readings, measured in decibels (dB) from 6 pm to midnight, revealed that Karol Bagh recorded the highest noise level in the city, with an average of 88.7 dB, up from 84.5 dB in 2023. Alipur and Najafgarh also saw a noticeable rise, with noise levels reaching 58.0 dB and 58.3 dB respectively, marking an increase of 5 per cent and 8 per cent compared to 2023. In an effort to combat pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale, and use. Among residential areas, Mundka recorded a 6 per cent rise in noise levels while Ashok Vihar saw a slight dip. Commer

Sound pollution in Ranchi's silence zone touched 74.65 dB (decibels) on Diwali night on Thursday against a permissible limit of 45 dB, a spike of 65.88 per cent, an official said. It was, however, a 5.27 per cent increase if compared to pre-Diwali levels recorded on October 24, the official said on Friday. Ranchi's Old High Court in Doranda locality, classified as a silence zone, registered an average sound pollution of 74.65 dB between 6pm and midnight, according to a data released by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB). On October 24, the area registered a noise level of 70.91dB. In the commercial area of Albert Ekka Chowk, noise levels rose by 21.71 per cent against the average permissible limit of 60 dB. The area recorded 73.03 dB on Diwali night, compared to 68.65 dB earlier in the month. The permissible sound limits are 65 dB during the day and 55 dB at night in commercial areas. The Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) measured sound levels at four

Noise levels during Diwali celebrations in several parts of Mumbai exceeded readings of last year, and firecrackers were burst beyond the 10pm deadline set by the courts, an NGO specialising in noise pollution awareness said on Monday. Diwali was celebrated with traditional pomp and fervour, marked with lights and firecrackers, across the nation on Sunday. The maximum noise level recorded in Mumbai during celebrations this year was 117 decibels, up from the top reading of 109.1 decibels last year, Awaaz Foundation said. The decibel levels peaked between 82 and 117 at Marine Drive in south Mumbai at 9:55pm, with the promenade seeing a huge crowd of revellers bursting "serial" and "aerial" bombs, the NGO's founder Sumaira Abdulali said in a release. The police began stopping the bursting of firecrackers only after 10:10pm, and also detained some people for not heeding directives in this connection, the NGO's release said. On Friday, the Bombay High Court directed that firecrackers c

As the boom of firecrackers filled the air across the country celebrating Deepavali with gusto, seven villages in Erode district of Tamil Nadu decided to mark the festival with just lights, and no sound, in a gesture considerate of the winged inhabitants of the bird sanctuary nearby. The villages are located around Vadamugam Vellode, 10 kilometres from Erode where the bird sanctuary is situated. Thousands of local bird species and migratory birds from other regions visit the sanctuary between October and January to lay eggs and hatch them. As Diwali usually falls in the month of October or November, the more than 900 families living around the bird sanctuary took the decision to save the birds and not scare them off by bursting crackers. They have been following this conservation approach for the past 22 years. The villagers said that during Deepavali (Diwali), they buy their children new clothes and allow them to only burn sparklers, and not burst crackers. This year as well, th

Majority of Durga Puja pandals in the state capital violated noise pollution norms during Dussehra festivities, according to data released by Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BPSCB). The noise level was measured higher than 75 decibels (dB) at 521 locations in Patna, the BSPCB data released late on Wednesday night said. As per Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the noise level at market places between 6 am and 10 pm should be below 65 dB. However, a relaxation of 10 dB is given to allow the upper limit at 75d B for special occasions. "The BSPCB monitored noise pollution levels at 950 locations in Patna. Monitoring was done to measure the level of noise pollution before (October 12) and during the puja (October 21, 22 and 23). "While the noise level was found between 80 dB to 90 dB at 329 locations, the level was found between 90 dB to 100 dB at 163 locations in Patna. The noise level at 29 locations was measured at more than 100 dB.which is alarming", BSPCB .

Mumbai Police started "No Honking Day" to avoid unnecessary honking and prevent noise pollution on Wednesday, June 14. Traffic Police also urge motorists to follow traffic rules and regulations.

After quiet Ganpati festival celebrations in the last two years, noise levels in Mumbai touched new heights during idol immersion processions this year, a city-based NGO said on Monday. As per data shared by Awaaz Foundation, the combination of drums and banjo used in processions created the highest noise at 115.6dB at Babulnath corner of Marine Drive in south Mumbai and 112.1dB in Bandra. The use of drums, conical loudspeakers and banjos caused the decibel levels to shoot on the fifth day of Ganpati visarjan, the NGO said. The second highest noise of 109.4dB was recorded when a metal cylinder was beaten with a metal hammer at Linking Road in Bandra and by drums when sound was reflected off metal barriers of the Metro construction along SV Road and Khira Nagar in Santacruz, it was stated. The celebrations have come after a two-year lull due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the highest noise level recorded was 111.5dB, and like this year, it was created by the banjo, the foundati

The peak level of noise during the twin tower demolition on Sunday was recorded at 101.2 decibels in close vicinity, according to official figures. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) had installed six machines to measure the ambient noise and the figures of the three places closest to the twin towers were taken for this measurement, officials said. The three machines were installed at Parsvnath Prestige, Barat Ghar and the City Park all around 300-500 metres from the blast site. The ambient noise before the demolition was recorded 49.5 decibels at Parsvnath Prestige, 65.9 decibels at Barat Ghar and 56.6 at the City Park, according to the data. During the demolition, the noise was recorded at 84.9 decibels at Parsvnath Prestige, 101.2 decibels at Barat Ghar and 89.8 at the City Park, the data showed. The noise level after the demolition was recorded at 60.8 decibels at Parsvnath Prestige, 63.1 decibels at Barat Ghar and 59.2 at the City Park, according to the data.

Uttar Pradesh Police informed that as many as 53,942 loudspeakers have been uninstalled from various religious places across the state till 7.00 am on Sunday.

'The Frontiers Report identifies and offers solutions to three environmental issues that merit attention and action from governments and the public at large,' said UNEP Executive Director

The DPCC has issued directions to all DMs, SDMs, Delhi Police, and traffic police for strict compliance of these rules.

The Uttarakhand government on Friday decided to levy heavy fines on noise pollution

NGT had earlier directed the CPCB to prepare a noise pollution map and remedial action plan to solve the issue

NGT has drawn attention to a long-neglected area

The green panel said the absence of implementation of noise pollution norms affects the health of citizens, especially infants and senior citizens.

Second-hand noise is the new smoke - we need have a debate on how to govern the cacophony of modern life, before it starts killing us too

The loudspeaker installed in public places cannot have a sound level more than 10 dB above ambient noise level: UP Police

Bombay Bar Association has also called an extraordinary general meeting tomorrow to discuss matter

Findings show that everyday surroundings could have wider implications for long-term health