If the noise levels monitored during Deepavali by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Mysuru are to be believed, they were almost similar to the ones observed during last year’s festival.
This means, the noise levels remained in the range of 63-70 decibels.
Like every year, the board had monitored the ambient air and noise levels before and during festival. The results of the noise levels had been compiled and sent to the head office in Bengaluru while the levels of air pollution during the same period are being collected for compilation.
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The noise was monitored before the festival on November 6 and during the festival on November 10, 11 and 12. The noise pollution monitoring station set up temporarily at Lokmanyanagar near the KSPCB office kept a watch on the noise levels during the same period.
It was observed that there was no alarming rise in the noise levels but exceeded the standards laid down for residential areas. This was primarily attributed to the bursting of crackers.
The levels observed during the last three years remained in the range of 62-69 decibels.
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The average noise levels observed this year were — 57.5 dB (before festival); 66.3 dB (first day), 70.3 dB (second day) and 70.2 dB (third day).The average levels during last year were – 55.5 dB (before festival); 65.38 dB (first day); 64.66 dB (second day) and 69.65 dB (third day).
The board claimed that a lot of awareness had been spread against bursting firecrackers since last few years and this was one of the reasons for drop in noise levels during the festival.As per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the air quality was monitored at Kuvempunagar and K.R. Circle besides the board office.