Diwali noise pollution: CPCB notes positive trend this year

In a positive development, nearly half of the 35 locations in the country where noise pollution levels were recorded this Diwali showed either a decreasing trend or no rise over data gathered during the festival last year.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data released today, "17 locations have shown a decreasing trend or no change in trend, especially Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai".
It said that a marginal variation was observed at 18 locations across Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow as compared to last year's Diwali.
Real-time, continuous ambient noise monitoring was done at 35 locations across seven cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

According to CPCB data for 2011, 2012 and 2013, three locations in Bangalore (Parisar Bhavan: 61 decibel, BTM: 62 dBA and Pineeya: 56 dBA) showed a decreasing trend or no change at all along with an equal number of locations in Chennai (T. Nagar: 69 dBA, Guindy: 69 dBA and Perambur: 65 dBA).
Punjagutta in Hyderabad, too, witnessed significant sound levels with 76 dBA, although that was similar to what was experienced last year and the year before that, CPCB said.

Out of five locations in Kolkata, only one showed a decreasing trend. The other locations in the city where the data was gathered, however, saw an increase in noise levels.

Noise levels at Golpark in Kolkata shot up significantly and stood at 75 dB(A) in comparison to 64 dB(A) last year.
In Delhi, leaving aside the location at ITO, the other four locations showed an increasing trend in terms of noise pollution, the CPCB data shows.