Author : P.Balashanmugam,V.Nehrukumar , AR.Ramanathan and G.Balasubramanian

The present paper deals with monitoring of noise pollution in different places of Chidambaram town on the Deepavali festival. During the present study the noise levels were measured with the help of sound meter. A preliminary assessment of noise levels during Deepavali, pre Deepavali and post Deepavali was made in the present study. Noise monitoring was carried out in the daytime (06.00am to 10.00p. am) and night time (10.00p. m to 06.00a.m.) of Deepawali festival. Deepawali or Diwali is an important Hindu Festival. It is the festival of lights that comes in the month of October or early November. On this occasion, a lot of firecrackers are used almost in every part of the country. This causes not only air pollution, but noise pollution also. Noise pollution monitoring during the Diwali Festival has been carried out on 2nd November 2013 during the night time. Noise levels were recorded at 30 sites in Chidambaram. The sites are divided into 3 zones based on their locations. The survey included areas around hospitals, residential and commercial areas. Noise levels were compared with standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board, India. On Diwali day the maximum noise levels ranged between 61 dB(A) to 103 dB(A), while on the pre-Diwali night the maximum noise levels ranged between 60 dB(A) to 100 dB(A) .The minimum noise levels during the day ranged between 46.5 and 80.5 dB(A) , while on the pre-Diwali night the minimum noise levels ranged between 54 dB(A) to 85 dB(A).The highest noise levels on Diwali night was recorded at East car Street station which was 103 dB(A). More than three sites showed values of 101 dB (A) in the study on Diwali night, which were Annamalai Nagar Station, Kothankudi street and S. P. Koil street. On Diwali day and night noise is consistently high, although the noise is sporadic. All the sites showed noise values above permissible limits.

Keywords: Deepavali festival, Noise pollution, Firecrackers, Health hazards, Sound Level, Ambient air quality standard

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.4,No.1 (Feb- 2014)