Industrial town of Punjab—Ludhiana—was the noisiest and its air most polluted this Diwali in the state even as the pollutants in most cities, including Ludhiana, were lower as compared to the festival in 2014.
The air pollution in Ludhiana on Diwali night was double the normal days. Of the five cities the Punjab Pollution Control Board monitored noise and air pollution this year, Patiala’s air was the cleanest and noise was least in Jalandhar.
Noise, air pollution across the state was lower than 2014 but higher than 2015.
However, as compared to 2015, when Diwali was a lacklustre affair owing to the ‘black Diwali’ call given by Sant Samaj in protest against the spate of sacrilege incidents across Punjab, the figures saw a sharp rise. The pollution level on Diwali in 2015 was lowest since 2012.
Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) this year monitored air pollution level in Patiala, Mandi Gobindgarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar and collected data of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), sulpher dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the air.
The said cities were divided into residential, commercial and sensitive (areas around hospitals) zones for monitoring the ambient noise and air quality. The noise levels were recorded on hourly basis.
Pollution board chairman Manpreet Singh said, “The pollution level this year remained low as the awareness regarding the ill-effects is growing, especially among the youth. The credit goes to the students, their teachers, green activists.”
Pollution down at Golden Temple
The pollution level at the Golden Temple this Diwali was marginally down as well as compared to 2014. Still, the air pollution around the shrine was four times the normal days. Pollution board chairman Manpreet Singh said, “The dip in pollution level is the result of SGPC’s efforts.”
