Pune recently resonated with the exuberant beats of traditional dhol-tasha and modern DJ systems as enthusiastic youngsters led an immersion procession bidding farewell to the Ganesh festival for the year. However, the revelry pushed the city’s noise levels to unprecedented heights, surpassing established limits set by the Pollution Control Board. According to data collected by a team from the College of Engineering Pune (COEP), Pune experienced an average noise level of 105.2 decibels during the visarjan (immersion) procession.
The highest recorded noise level peaked at Khanduji Baba Chowk at 8 pm on September 28. The COEP team diligently monitored noise levels at ten different locations throughout the city, employing spatio-temporal and scientific techniques to ensure accuracy. Among the findings, Kunte Chowk on Laxmi Road registered an average of 107.2 decibels, while Ganpati Chowk reached 106.3 decibels. Other notable readings included 106 decibels at Limbraj Chowk, 103.1 decibels at Umbrya Chowk, 100.9 decibels at Belbaug Chowk, 100 decibels at Tilak Chowk, 99.9 decibels at Holkar Chowk, 99.8 decibels at Gokhale Chowk, 96.5 decibels at Shedge Vithoba Chowk, and 90.2 decibels at Khanduji Baba Chowk on Laxmi Road.
The Pollution Control Board (PCB) guidelines specify maximum noise levels, which vary by area type and time of day. In industrial zones, noise levels up to 75 decibels are allowed between 6 am and 10 pm, decreasing to 70 decibels from 10 pm to 6 am. Business areas permit noise levels of up to 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night past 10 pm. Residential zones have limits of 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night, while silence zones restrict noise to 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night.
Pune witnessed a significant increase in noise levels compared to the previous year, with an average noise level of 105.2 decibels recorded during last year’s immersion procession. This trend repeated itself this year, making it the highest noise level recorded during the city’s immersion procession in the past two decades.
