Exploring the Influence of Prime Festivals on Noise Pollution in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Environmental noise has reached an alarming level and is affecting the exposed population. The noise levels are elevated during the festival season. This study aims to explore the influence of prime festivals on noise levels in an urban area. 18 locations in the Raipur city of Chhattisgarh, India, were selected for conducting the study during the Ganesh Utsav, Dussehra, and Diwali festivals. Study of equivalent noise level (Leq) and other noise parameters Traffic noise index (TNI), Noise Climate (NC), Noise exceeding 10% and (L10) and Noise exceeding 90% of measurement time (L90) were found for all three festivals in the A-weighted decibel scale (dBA). Noise maps from observed levels were prepared using the ArcGIS Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. Noise levels ranged from 61.4 to 81.3 dBA during Ganesh Utsav, 63.5 to 79.9 dBA during Dussehra, and 70.1 to 81.2 dBA during the Diwali festival. All the locations recorded above 70 dBA during Diwali, whereas nearly 50 percent of the locations recorded above 70 dBA during Ganesh Utsav and Dussehra festivals. The urgent need to control the noise pollution in the Raipur city of Chhattisgarh by making strict rules is very much needed for making the ambient environment clean, green, and healthy.

Keywords: festival, noise pollution, noise descriptors, crackers, GIS