Surge in noise levels, air quality moderate during Deepavali in Tiruchi: report

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has reported a crisp spike successful sound levels successful Tiruchi metropolis during Deepavali this year, portion aerial prime remained wrong the “moderate” category.

According to TNPCB data, the ambient sound level roseate from 54.8 Leq dB(A) recorded connected October 13 to 83.0 Leq dB(A) connected October 20, indicating a important summation successful dependable strength owed to festive celebrations and usage of firecrackers.

Last year’s readings showed a akin trend, with 63.6 Leq dB(A) earlier Deepavali and 85.6 Leq dB(A) aft the festival, underscoring the persistent sound situation during the season.

For aerial quality, TNPCB monitored 2 cardinal locations successful the metropolis — Gandhi Park and Bishop Heber College — wherever the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood astatine 119 and 111, respectively, some falling nether the mean category. In 2024, Gandhi Park had recorded an AQI of 113, and Ramalinga Nagar 108, showing lone a marginal year-on-year variation.

Officials noted that portion aerial prime did not deteriorate drastically, sound contamination levels proceed to transcend permissible limits, peculiarly successful residential and commercialized areas. The permissible daytime bounds successful specified zones is 55 dB(A), arsenic per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms. “Even short-term vulnerability to 80 dB and supra tin origin auditory accent and slumber disruption,” a elder TNPCB authoritative said.