POLLUTION ASSESSMENT DURING DEEPAWALI FESTIVAL

Central Pollution Control Board has been conducting ambient noise level monitoring during Deepawali festival regularly since 1993 at selected locations in Delhi to assess the increase in ambient noise level. On Deepawali day (7^th Nov, 1999), continuous noise level monitoring was conducted at Kamla Nagar and the noise level was observed ranging between 66.1 dB(A) and 84.4 dB(A). The short duration noise level monitoring was conducted at seven locations. The results are presented in following table.

The noise level (Leq) on Deepawali day was found between 72.3 dB(A) and 91.8 dB(A) for short duration monitoring at all the locations during 1997, whereas it was found between 66.0 dB(A) and 103.0 dB(A) during 1998. The noise levels were much higher than the prescribed limit of 45 dB(A) during night time applicable to residential area. The maximum instantaneous noise level in first response recorded was 107.0 dB(A) at East Arjun Nagar in 1997, whereas it was 125.0 dB(A) at Lajpat Nagar in 1998. In addition to rise in noise level due to firing of crackers, air pollution levels in terms of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and carbon monoxide (CO) increased substantially, which further deteriorate the ambient air quality. The 24-hourly concentration of SO₂ in 1997 increased upto 116 micrograms per cubic metre at ITO which is almost four times the normal day concentration. The values of CO were almost twice than the values observed on normal days. The concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ were found within the permissible limit on Deepawali day during 1998. The concentration of SPM and CO were above permissible limit but still lower as compared to concentrations recorded on Deepawali day in 1997.