Mumbai: Awaaz Foundation's report reveals decrease in aerial crackers on Diwali

Sumaira Abdulali, founder and convenor of Awaaz Foundation, showing the chemical and noise decibel readings

The noise testing report by Awaaz Foundation on November 12 revealed fewer aerial crackers overall than in the last three years since 2020, primarily consisting of chakris, anars, and sparklers. This marks the first time in a decade that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) did not collaborate with the NGO for noise testing. Furthermore, the report pointed out violations of the high court's two-hour window for bursting crackers from 8 pm to 10 pm.

Sumaira Abdulali, founder and convenor of Awaaz Foundation, highlighted the early use of firecrackers at Shivaji Park and Marine Drive, saying, "At Shivaji Park, firecrackers were burst at about 7.45 pm (before the court-ordered time of 8 pm.) Barring a few stray crackers at a distance, there were few firecrackers used along the road from Shivaji Park to Marine Drive."

People celebrating Diwali with firecrackers at Juhu beach on Sunday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

She further mentioned that firecracker use at Marine Drive started increasing after 9 pm. The highest noise levels were recorded at 9.55 pm at Marine Drive, with the police taking action to shut down firecracker use around 10.10 pm and detaining some individuals who persisted despite warnings.

Concerns about air pollution led to a restricted time frame for bursting crackers, permitted only between 8 pm and 10 pm by the Bombay High Court. Abdulali discussed air pollution on Diwali day, saying, "Though no crackers containing toxic chemicals are permitted under Supreme Court (SC) orders, their presence was detected in a separate test when their chemicals were analysed, including the presence of barium, a chemical banned by the SC."

She expressed concern that the resulting increase in air pollution, reflected in the poor Air Quality Index (AQI) immediately after Diwali, would persist due to the lack of parameters to regulate harmful chemicals like barium.

Firecrackers are burst by families at Marine Drive. Pic/Shadab Khan

The collaboration between the Awaaz Foundation and MPCB in testing firecracker noise levels dates back to 2008. Over the years, public awareness, government intervention, and court orders have contributed to a gradual reduction in noise levels. In 2020, the government allowed only "green crackers" following an order from the National Green Tribunal, aiming to reduce air and noise pollution.

However, in 2023, for the first time in a decade, MPCB and Awaaz did not conduct their annual joint firecracker testing to determine noise levels before Diwali. The noise standards for firecrackers, as per the Environment (Protection) Rules, 2006, prohibit the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers generating noise levels exceeding 125 decibels at a distance of 4 metres from the point of bursting.

Firecracker noise testing report

In Diwali 2022, the highest noise level was 109.1 dB at Marine Drive. The previous year, the highest noise level was 100.4 dB at Shivaji Park, primarily due to the use of ‘green crackers.'

7 pm: Carter Road, Bandra West: 72-85 dB (No crackers)

7.45 pm: Shivaji Park grounds: 99 dB (Crackers being used before the window of 8 pm to 10 pm)

7.50 pm: Shivaji Park-Marine Drive: 85 dB (Stray crackers, mostly anar and chakri, at a distance)

8.45 pm: Colaba Machimar village: 82 dB (Anar, chakris, few bombs)

9 pm - 11.25 pm: Marine Drive: 82-117 dB (Police presence; crackers shut down after complaint at about 10.05 pm)

11.45 pm: Shivaji Park: 95 dB (Crackers continued beyond the time limit)

82 db-117 db
Noise decibel levels at Marine Drive

8 pm to 10 pm
Two-hour window granted by high court for bursting crackers