Panaji (Goa)
Ahead of the upcoming Diwali festival beginning from October 17 in Goa, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the State Pollution authority (GSPCB) to undertake mass awareness campaign to reduce bursting of firecrackers during the festival.
Directions are also issued to monitor and regulate ambient air and noise pollution levels in the state, which are observed to be high during the festival season. The final data reporting has to be placed before the central board by November 14 and the compliance report by November 30.
“In compliance with the directions of Supreme Court of India, issued in the year 2005, CPCB is coordinating ambient air and noise level monitoring during Diwali festival this year,” CPCB divisional head D Saha said in his letter to GSPCB.
“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 a mass awareness campaign for the reduction of bursting of firecrackers to comply with the Supreme Court directions, across the country,” Shah added.
As per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, bursting of firecrackers have been banned from 10.00 pm to 6.00 am.
Board has in place ambient air monitoring stations across several places right from cities to rural areas.
The noise specifications basically vary in urban, rural areas at night and day and are mostly between 60dB to 75dB.