Ranchi’s Lalpur wore the Diwali decibel crown of shame this year, smashing sound barriers to touch 96.6dB between 8pm and 10pm on Sunday, bursting to smithereens Central Pollution Control Board benchmarks that the state is supposed to obey. Awareness drives died with a whimper as residents celebrated one of the noisiest Diwalis ever, caring a hoot for pollution norms. Lalpur, a mix of commercial and residential establishments, out-noised other notorious areas such as Albert Ekka Chowk, Sujata Chowk and Ratu Road. According to benchmarks, at night, the noise level should be 55dB or below. Chasing Lalpur’s 96.6dB were the Albert Ekka Chowk, Sujata Chowk and Ratu Road trio at 96.3dB, 93.3dBand 91.4dB. The minimum levels at these places recorded between 10pm-midnight (see box) also mocked pollution guidelines as the figures recorded were shockingly above prescribed limits. This year, sound tests were done at as many as 17 spots in the capital. “All the places recorded alarming sound levels in every aspect,” said A.K. Sinha, in-charge of central laboratory of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB). “We did tests across three time slots, 6pm-8pm, 8-10pm and 10pm-midnight,” Sinha added. A comparative study of last few years figures are yet to be assembled but just by seeing this year’s figures, it seems these may be highest so far. Usually, Kutchery Chowk, followed by Albert Ekka or Sujata Chowk, used to report the most noise in Diwali. This year, Lalpur surpassed them all. “In 2010, if I am not mistaken, Kutchery clocked highest 80dB, and over 90dB the next two years. Compared to that, Lalpur by far is highest now. Comparative study figures will take couple of days after which it will be sent to JSPCB head office, from where it will be forwarded to the district administration,” said another senior lab official not willing to be named. According to the study, the residential areas AG More, Argora Chowk, Ashok Nagar, Mecon and HEC S-Type Quarters too have shockingly overshot the permissible limits. The elite so-called silence zones such as Raj Bhavan and Jharkhand High Court areas also weren’t calm. Now, apart from the decibel levels — this just measures noise pollution — other parameters such as air toxicity as a result of fumes released from crackers would have to be measured. Diwali came and went, reducing the capital to a ruin of of good intentions. Did you stop anyone from bursting noisy crackers?