The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will monitor noise levels across Chennai during Diwali using 60 monitoring stations installed across all 15 zones of the city. The initiative is part of a noise-mapping study being conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras).The monitoring network uses low-cost sensors installed at four locations in each of Chennai's 15 zones. The stations were originally established as part of a broader study to measure ambient noise levels across the city during both daytime and nighttime.Why Is TNPCB Monitoring Noise During Diwali?The TNPCB Diwali noise monitoring exercise has been extended for another year, with the sensors also being used during the festival period. A TNPCB official said more stringent monitoring is required during Diwali because noise levels can rise significantly across Chennai during celebrations.The monitoring will provide authorities with data on noise levels at different locations and help assess how the festival affects the city's overall noise environment.IIT-Madras Study Covers Chennai'The Chennai noise monitoring project began as a collaboration between TNPCB and IIT-Madras in 2024. Chennai was selected as the pilot city for mapping noise levels in urban areas with populations of more than one million."An earlier IIT-Madras study using the 60 locations found that noise exceedances were widespread across Chennai, including residential, commercial, traffic, industrial and sensitive areas. Road traffic, congested junctions and honking were identified as major contributors to ambient noise.Monitoring May Expand to Other CitiesThe Diwali noise monitoring Chennai initiative could also provide a model for similar monitoring networks elsewhere in Tamil Nadu. According to TNPCB, authorities are considering setting up sensors in cities including Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Salem.Environmentalists have welcomed the expanded monitoring but have called for the data from all stations to be made public. They have also stressed the importance of proper sensor calibration so that the results accurately represent noise levels across the city.The latest monitoring exercise is expected to generate additional data on Chennai's noise environment during Diwali and contribute to future pollution-control measures.Also Read : Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Announces New Government Headquarters Building in Chennai for 100 Years
