Air, noise pollution attain dangerous level on Diwali: BSPCB

Patna: Air and noise pollution levels touched alarming levels here on Diwali day despite all the advertisements and pleas by government, as well as, civil society organisations requesting people to say no to crackers and fireworks.

Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) Chairman Subhash Chandra Singh told PTI today that the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) in Patna reached 991 microgram per cubic metre of air on Diwali day.

"The RSPM level in Patna on Diwali day was at a very dangerous level, almost 10 times more than the prescribed standard of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. Usually RSPM in Patna air is around 386 microgram per cubic metre on normal days," Singh said.

The BSPCB Chairman said the quantity of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air was at 98.14 microgram per cubic metre on Diwali evening, which was more than the permissible maximum standard limit of 80 microgram per cubic metre.

"Such huge increase in the air pollution levels could have been due to the use of fireworks and vehicle emissions.

Patna has already earned the dubious distinction of 'non-attainment area' in environmental parlance meaning it is a place where air pollution persistently exceeds national ambient air quality standards," Singh said.

However, Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the corresponding time was around 8 microgram per cubic metre, less than the permissible maximum limit.

Singh said the noise pollution levels also touched dangerous levels on the Diwali day peaking to 99.7 dB between 10pm and 11pm, with the day time average shooting up from 81.7 decibel (dB) to 83.5 dB and the night time average rising from 65.8 dB to 74.9 dB.

The government prescribed sound standards is 65 dB for daytime and 55 dB for nighttime in commercial area and 55 dB and 45 dB for residential area.

"We took our measurements at Boring Road area and the maximum noise level was recorded between 8pm to 11pm on the Diwali day. It ranged from 85.2 dB to 97.4 dB, way above than the prescribed standards. This means the city did not respond to the appeals about not bursting crackers," Singh said.