Patna’s Durga Puja: Air Quality Improves, But Noise Pollution Rings Louder

PATNA: Air quality in Patna during Durga Puja was in the “moderate” category, showing an improvement from the previous year. However, the noise level was found to be above the permissible limit at many Puja pandals in the city, raising concerns over noise pollution during festivities. Information in this regard was shared by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) on Thursday.

The data of air quality is being collected through constant monitoring at six locations in the city, including D.R.M Office Complex in Danapur, B.I.T Patna Campus, Rajdhani Vatika, The Indira Gandhi Science Complex (Patna planetarium), Shri Krishna Memorial Hall Complex and the Government High School Complex in Patna City. Along with the noise level monitoring was conducted by four BSPCB teams at 950 locations across the city.

During Durga puja (October 20-25) the Air Quality Index(AQI) ranged from 141 to 157, with an average of 148 stated BSPCB. It shows a clear improvement considering previous year, when the minimum index recorded was 153 and the maximum reach was 254 with an average of 209.

Overall this year during durga puja the city indicating a moderate level of pollution and it fell within the “moderate” category.

The AQI measurement is done on the basis of various air pollutants, providing a tool for assessing air quality for the general public.

D.K Shukla, chairman of BSPCB said, “to ensure enhancement in air quality, BSPCB has begun several measures including, the availability of piped natural gas(PNG) in Patliputra Industrial area for the industrial units which had been using coal or furnace oil. The industrial units have been issued notices in the matter to switch to PNG. Closure notices have been issued to three units, and eight others have been encouraged to switch to PNG soon with the warning of closure.

Further BSPCB also pointed other factors influencing ambient air quality, including human activity, change in weather and other natural factors.

Shukla further emphasised , the gradual onset of cold weather leads to limited dispersion of suspended particulate matter in the ambient air, resulting in a deterioration of air quality and its is important to balance human activities to maintain ambient air quality.

With the moderate air pollution, noise levels were above permissible limits across the city.

The monitoring units were divided into four teams for different locations, from Patna City through Gai Ghat, Gandhi Maidan , Digha ghat and to Danapur. These teams organised by BSPCB measured noise levels at 950 locations from 4pm to 12am from October 21 and 23.

Before Durga Puja nouse levels at 80% of the total 142 pandals were below 80 decibles (dB). However, during the puja , only 35.5% of the 808 surveyed locations displayed noise levels exceeding 80 dB, stated BSPCB.

BSPCB chairman Shukla added, “The area between Danapur to Kurji and Gai ghat to Patna city exhibited noise levels exceeding 100dB, indicates the data collected during the pandal survey.”