Every cracker sound heard on Diwali was illegal

NEWDELHI: On Diwali night, Delhi heard the loud bursts of firecrackers — proof that illegal polluting crackers were being used. Experts said that the green crackers available in the market were noiseless.

“Only two types of green fireworks — anar (flowerpot) and phuljari (sparklers)– were available. They do not produce any sound. So whatever sound you heard last night was illegal. Those were conventional crackers,” said a senior official of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The pollution watchdog said that the range of noise pollution was still better this Diwali than in 2018. “This year noise pollution levels ranged from 61.4 db at Mandir Marg to 71.7 db at RK Puram, which was better than the high range of 64.4 db to 74.0 db at the same locations in 2018,” the official added.

The safe standard during the day is 55 db while at night is 45 db.

The DPCC analysis was based on real time noise monitoring undertaken at five locations across the city. According to officials, last year Punjabi Bagh and some other locations in west Delhi were the noisiest.

“It is basically because most crackers bursting is in residential areas and hence the sound pollution levels are found highest here on Diwali day. On this day, these areas are noisier than industrial areas,” official said.

Scientists from NEERI had developed some formula to manufacture green crackers, with 30% lower emissions. The formula envisaged a noise limit of 125 db (at a distance of five metres), lower than the 160 db for traditional varieties.

However, manufacturers could come up with only a few types of fireworks of which only the light producing anar and phujhari were available in Delhi.

“The ban on conventional fireworks has certainly helped. However, more needs to be done to reduce the impact. A thick cover of tree lining had to be created in every residential area, which has not been done. Government takes air pollution seriously, because it has an immediate effect on our lungs. But, they must know that noise pollution is equally damaging,” said Omesh Saigal, former chief secretary of Delhi.

It was after Saigal’s plea demanding an action plan against high noise pollution levels caused by traffic movement that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the authorities to work on a plan to fix the issue.

According to B S Vohra, president, federation of East Delhi RWAS, “The scenario in terms of noise pollution was much lwoer this year because of the ban. However, more needs to be done.”