The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) report on noise level during Diwali celebrations show that the highest decibel levels were recorded in Goregaon at 99.6 dB followed by Malabar Hill, Mazgaon, and Chembur. However, violation of noise levels was recorded in all parts of the city.
The report, Ambient Noise Levels, released on Friday by the state pollution board has a comprehensive noise level recording of Diwali 2012. In all, 45 locations of Mumbai were covered to note decibel levels. The observations are spread over four days starting from November 13 till November 16.
The noisiest area of Mumbai this Diwali was Goregaon’s Subhash Nagar, where a noise level of 99.6 dB was recorded on November 15 during daytime. Surprisingly, the maximum recording, even at night during the first three of the four days of Diwali was just above 98 dB.
As per the standard noise level under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the limit in residential areas is 55 dB during daytime and 45 dB at night, whereas in silence zones, it’s 50 dB during day and 40 dB at night.
Even residents of Jogeshwari’s Majaswadi had to face the brunt of noise pollution as a level of 99.4 dB was observed on the night of November 15.
Similarly, the other areas of Mumbai where the noise levels were above 90dB during day as well as night are Malabar Hill, Mazgaon, Girgaum, Dadar Hindu Colony, Trombay, Chembur, Amar Mahal Junction, Mulund (east and west), Wadala, etc.
The least noise was noted at Dindoshi at 34dB on the night of November 16.