Noise level breaches limits on Deepavali day

At the residential area of Ponnaiarajapuram, the average noise level registered was 75.1 decibel on the day of Deepavali as against 65.3 decibel on October 15.

According to N.A. Sekar, assistant director, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the noise level should normally be 55 decibel in residential area, while it can be up to 75 decibels in industrial areas. The noise levels were recorded on two days for six hours from 6 pm to 12 midnight.

However the busy Saibaba Colony signal recorded much lesser noise level on the day of Deepavali. This place recorded 71.2 decibel during pre-Deepavali, but came down to 66.6 decibel on the day of Deepavali.

There has been a dip in noise pollution level at this junction as there was less vehicle movement on the festive day. A week ago, there was heavy traffic movement at the junction as the people were out on streets on a shopping frenzy.

In fact, the noise levels have come down in both Ponnaiarajapuram and Saibaba Colony junction as compared to last year. On the day of Deepavali in 2013, it was 80.4 decibels at Ponnaiarajapuram and 67 decibels at Saibaba Colony junction.

“There has been a significant dip in sound levels, particularly in the residential area of Ponnaiarajapuram, as firing of crackers might have been less due to rains that lashed the city on the festive day,” he said.