Guwahati: City residents faced excessive noise during Diwali as Panbazar recorded 81.7 dB, far above silent-zone standards.Noise levels in Panbazar, which is classified as a ‘silent zone’, rose during Diwali this year, increasing by 4.2 dB from two years ago despite signs of improvement last year.According to Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) data, Panbazar recorded 81.7 dB on Sunday, Diwali, compared with 56.2 dB on Saturday. The level fell to 74.4 dB on Monday but remained above the usual 40–50 dB standard for silent zones.In contrast, noise levels in Ganeshguri, a commercial area, fell to 68.4 dB this Diwali from 72.2 dB in 2024, a decline of 3.8 dB, executive environmental scientist Ranjana Singha said.“Residential areas also witnessed elevated readings,” she said. Rehabari recorded 74.3 dB on Diwali, up from 59.5 dB on the pre-Diwali day. The level remained almost unchanged at 74.1 dB the following day.Firecracker sellers reported slightly lower sales, attributing the decline to rising prices. “People were more conscious about their spending this time. Many customers either bought fewer crackers or opted for cheaper varieties as prices have gone up,” said Ripun Saikia, a Fancy Bazar vendor.Despite Supreme Court directives on green crackers, vendors said demand remained low, leaving much stock unsold.“We stocked green crackers in keeping with the guidelines, but the response from customers was not encouraging. Many people either refrained from buying crackers or purchased them in smaller quantities, leaving us with a considerable amount of unsold stock,” said Chandan Sarma, another firecracker seller.
