Diwali 2023: Mumbai Recorded Noise Pollution Beyond 2021 and 2022; Marine Drive Hit 117 dB Despite HC Limits

The Awaaz Foundation found noise levels between 72 decibels and 117 decibels, way above the permissible limits of 50-55 decibels during the day and 40-45 decibels at night in south Mumbai, said the NGO's founder Sumaira Abdulali.

This year, the noise levels were higher than in 2022 (109.1 decibels) at Marine Drive and 2021 (100.4 decibels) at Shivaji Park.

At Shivaji Park, people started bursting firecrackers AT around 7.45 p.m., before the Bombay High Court’s time-limit of 8 p.m. TO 10 p.m., while the frequency of firecrackers at Marine Drive started increasing after 9 p.m.

The recordings at Bandra Bandstand were 72-85 decibels, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park it was 99-95 decibels, as people continued to burst firecrackers till nearly midnight.

The nearby Dadar seaface recorded sound levels of 85 decibels, at Colaba fishing colony it was 82 decibels, and on Marine Drive, it peaked at 117 decibels at around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday.

For the first time in a decade, Awaaz and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board this year did not conduct their annual joint pre-Diwali firecrackers test to determine noise levels and ban them even before they could reach the markets.

Abdulali said while firecrackers containing toxic chemicals are banned by the Supreme Court, their presence, including barium, was detected in separate tests conducted.

“The poor Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai as a result of an increase in air pollution noted immediately after Diwali would contain these harmful chemicals including barium,” warned Abdulali.

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