However, air pollution was found to be on the lower side during this year?s Diwali vis-?-vis previous year?s, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noise and air pollution data released today.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the city recorded the lowest air pollution level figures this Diwali in the last five years.
CPCB?s real time continuous ambient noise monitoring at five locations--Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), CPCB, Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), Dilshad Garden recorded an average of 58 dB(A), 62 dB(A), 52 dB(A) and 56 dB(A) respectively this year.
However, last year, the same locations recorded an average value of 56, 58, 50 and 49 dB(A) respectively.
The findings of the monitoring attributed the bursting of noisy crackers to the upward trend in noise levels in the city vis-?-vis last year, said Scientist A K Sinha.
Similarly round-the-clock ambient air quality monitoring was carried out on November 3 at seven monitoring stations of CPCB namely Pragati Maidan Metro Station, Pitampura, Siri Fort, Janakpuri, Nizamuddin, ShahzadaBagh and Shahdara.
Sulphur dioxide concentration on the festive day decreased at five locations, while the values increased at two locations in comparison to last year.
SO2concentration ranged between 5 and 56 ?g/m3 as compared to 3 and 63 ?g/m3 last year. SO2 levels have been found within the prescribed standard of 80 g/m3 at all the locations.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration also remained on the lower side ranging between 26 and 87 ?g/m3 as compared to 44 and 85 ?g/m3 in 2012.
The NO2 levels are within the prescribed standard of 80 ?g/m3 at six locations except ShahzadaBagh.
Particulate matter levels have shown an increasing trend at all the locations this year as compared to last year.
Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) values ranged between 796 and 1138 ?g/m3as compared to 748 and 951 ?g/m3?g/m3 during Diwali last year.
Increased Particulate matter levels values in general may be attributed to adverse meteorological conditions, like lower night time temperature, low mixing height and low wind speed.