Foreword
The Deepawali is a festival of lights. However, over the years, it has also become a festival of noise along with attendent hazards. Indiscriminate use of crackers often results in serious accidents and lethal injuries. Alongside, deafening noise produced by crackers blatantly exceeds the tolerable limits thus posing threats of hearing loss apart from public nuisance.

To contain the noise levels, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has prescribed the pennissible limits of noise from various sources and in the ambient air in different areas. The concerned local authorities have been advised to enforce the standards.

For ascertaining the nature and extent of noise created by crackers during the Deepawali festival, a survey was caJTied out by CPCB. The findings of the survey (1993-95) and the recommendations thereon are contained in this report. We hope, the report will be useful to all concerned including the civic authorities and citizens at large