Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to minimise air and noise pollution during the Diwali season, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to conduct a mass awareness campaign across the State to reduce bursting of fire crackers during the festival.
The Board has also been directed to monitor and regulate ambient air and noise pollution levels in the State during the festival and submit a compliance report.
“In compliance to the directions of Supreme Court of India, issued in 2005, CPCB is co-ordinating ambient air and noise level monitoring during Diwali festival year,” CPCB divisional head and scientist Air Quality D Saha said in his communication.
“This year, the festival falls on October 19 and therefore, it is requested to conduct the monitoring on pre-Diwali day that is on October 12 and on Diwali Day October 19 (October 18 for Goa),” he stated.
“It is also requested to start mass awareness campaign for reduction of bursting of fire crackers to comply with the Supreme Court directions, across the country,” Shah added.
The directions have been issued following a Supreme Court judgment regarding implementation of laws for controlling noise generated from various noise producing systems and activities, with special reference to fire crackers. The Court has also recently raised alarm about the impact of fire cracker bursting on the environment.
GSPCB sources said that as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, bursting of fire crackers have been banned from 10pm to 6am.
Sources said the Board will monitor the noise level at various stations and see
that the pollution level is within permissible limits.
The noise specifications vary in urban, rural areas at night and day and are mostly between 60dB to 75dB. “In case of fire crackers, the measure of sound crosses 100dB,” sources said.
CPCB has developed a noise monitoring protocol. The final data reporting has to be placed before the central board by November 14 and the compliance report by November 30.
