Hazratganj was noisiest during Diwali

Lucknow: The noise quotient during Diwali this year presented an increasing trend at two locations in Lucknow, while at a couple of locations, a decreasing trend was observed. One monitoring location showed no change in noise levels compared to previous year’s figures. The five locations in Lucknow were: Indiranagar, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Hazratganj and Talkatora industrial area.
The findings are part of the Real Time Ambient Noise Levels in 7 Metro Cities (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) during Deepawali conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board. The findings reveal that barring Talkatora Industrial area, the noise levels detected on Diwali night exceeded the average noise range. Noise level in Talkatora on Diwali was measured at 63 decibels (an increase of 3 decibels over last year’s figure), which well below the noise range of 70-75 decibels for industrial areas of the city.
The average noise level in residential areas of the city hovers in the range of 45-55 decibels, while for commercial areas it is in the range of 55-65 decibels.
In Indiranagar, the noise level measured this year stood at 57 decibel, while in 2013, the noise level recorded on Diwali night was 58 units. Similarly, noise level in Gomtinagar witnessed a dip by a unit compared to the previous year. The commercial area of Hazratganj was perhaps the noisiest among all the monitoring locations in Lucknow with the noise level recorded measuring 70 decibels, an increase of 2 units vis-à-vis previous year’s Diwali. The area in the vicinity of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences did not witness any rise or fall in the noise levels measured on Diwali night.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Real Time Ambient Noise Levels in 7 Metro Cities across India, increase in noise levels during Diwali night was observed at 21 monitoring locations, while 14 locations presented a decreasing trend. As many as seven locations showed no change as compared to previous year’s figures.