Double Trouble: Noise and Air Pollution Levels Soar in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow; AQI to Worsen In Coming Days

Among the residential areas, Indira Nagar was the noisiest location in the city during the day, while Gomti Nagar was noisiest at night this year in the post-monsoon (September-October) season.

An increasing trend in the noise levels was witnessed as compared to the last post-monsoon period. Indiranagar recorded an average noise level of 73.5 decibels or dB(A) during the day time, and it was followed by Gomti Nagar (72.1), Vikas Nagar (68.8) and Aliganj (61.8), whereas during the night Gomti Nagar was noisiest with 64.2 dB(A) noise levels followed by Aliganj (57.3), Vikas Nagar (55.7) and Indira Nagar (61.5).

The permissible limits during the day and night are 55 and 45 decibels, respectively.

In commercial areas during the daytime, Chowk was the noisiest with 80 decibels, followed by Alambagh (78), Charbagh (77), Aminabad (72) and Gomti Nagar (72.1).

During the night, Alambagh was the noisiest, with 74 dB(A) of noise recorded followed by Aminabad (79.9) Charbagh (73.6) and Chowk (72.8) respectively. The day and nighttime noise levels were recorded in the range of 51.9 to 88.6 and 45.2 to 83.6 dB(A) respectively.

All average values were significantly higher than the prescribed national limits of 55 and 45 dB (A) for day and nighttime, respectively.

In commercial and traffic areas, the day and night time noise levels were recorded in the range of 57.9 to 107.3 and 52.8 to 90.1 dB(A), respectively.

The average values of noise levels at all the commercial sites were significantly higher than the prescribed national limits of 65 dB (A) and 55 dB (A) for day and night time, respectively.

Air pollution in Lucknow adds to the problem

After being declared noisier than ever, Lucknow has been found to be recording high air pollution levels, with its AQI falling in the 'poor' category.

The Uttar Pradesh capital was engulfed in a layer of haze on Saturday evening and through Sunday.

As per the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the state capital was 274, making the city figure in the ‘poor’ air quality list.

The air pollution levels spiked by 88 units in a single day as compared to a day before. The city figured in 'good', 'satisfactory' and 'moderate' air quality levels throughout September, while in October it was only for two days on October 29 and 30 when the city’s air turned ‘poor’.

As per CPCB data AQI at Gomti Nagar, Talkatora, Nishatganj and Lalbagh was above 200, while at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and Kukrail picnic spot air pollution levels were below 200.

“For the first time in the last two months, AQI has crossed the 250 mark, which is an alarm for the authorities to take air pollution control measures at the earliest else the pollution levels will turn ‘severe’,” said environmentalist Prof Venkatesh Dutta.

He said that in the coming days the air quality will deteriorate further as temperatures will fall and will not allow pollutants to disperse in the atmosphere. The need of the hour is to stop all construction work in the city, penalize people who resort to garbage and stubble burning, control road dust by sprinkling water and construct bad roads.

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.