This year Diwali is quieter than in the past few years, but Air Quality deteriorates

The noise levels this year during the festival of Diwali in the city of Mumbai dropped to a new low, even though people in the city didn’t follow the 10 pm deadline given by the state government of Maharashtra. The noise level in Bandra, Mahim, Worli, Dadar, Shivaji Park, Babulnath and Marine Drive were very low compared to last year. This report was published by Awaaz Foundation in the city, which further stated that the maximum of 100.4 dB was recorded at Shivaji Park at 9.04 pm where people had burst crackers inside the park which is a silence zone.

“The burning of crackers was going on also after 10 pm, not single police were present at the site,” stated Sumaira Abdulali the convenor of Awaaz Foundation. Further, she stated that Marine Drive which used to be the centre of the firecracker was completely numb and silent even before 10 pm as there was a police presence. She said, that other places where the noise was noticed had burst crackers through the night until the next morning, however only green crackers were being used which have lower decibel levels than the traditional crackers. Such crackers include anar, Sparkles, chakris, etc.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on this matter stated that bursting crackers was very low than the last few years. “No doubt there was a violation of laws by bursting crackers after 10 pm deadline however using green crackers but the bursting of crackers was very less in the city of Mumbai this year as compared to past so many years,” stated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officer.

The reason stated by Abdulali said that the lower noise noticed in the city may be because more and more green crackers were used, however, the bursting of crackers was more than any year, as the decibel of available firecrackers was less concluding lower noise. Speaking on Air quality Awaaz Foundation stated that it was very poor, which was measured using a handheld air quality monitor in a citizen science initiative.

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