Based on the air and noise pollution levels recorded in the past few years, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will increase awareness among residents to cut down the emission and noise this year. The first phase of the awareness programme will start on Tuesday.

TNPCB officials have planned to reach the message to the public through students of the city corporation schools, apart from making announcements over loudspeakers, fitted on autorickshaws, and the placement of banners at vantage points.

“We are setting up the equipment for monitoring air quality at 10 vulnerable spots in the city to ecord the festival pollution levels. As for noise pollution, we will distribute handbills about the timings for bursting crackers and also the restriction on noise levels,” a senior official said.

He said people in all the 15 zones in Chennai have been told to burst crackers, such as rockets, only in open areas and avoid crowded residential places.

“High decibel crackers should not be burst from 10 pm to 6 am. We will send autos, fitted with loudspeakers, to residential colonies for reaching our recorded messages on noise and air pollution so that this Deepavali can be celebrated in an environment-friendly manner,” he said.