TNPCB to monitor noise levels in Chennai during Diwali

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is implementing a noise level monitoring initiative across Chennai during the Diwali festival. In collaboration with IIT-Madras, the board has deployed 60 monitoring stations across the city’s 15 zones to study festival-related noise levels.

This initiative extends an ongoing study that began in September 2024, which aims to map noise levels in cities with populations exceeding one million. The sensors, which track ambient noise during both day and night, will allow officials to compare festival noise against long-term baseline data. Following the pilot in Chennai, the TNPCB is considering expanding the sensor network to other cities, including Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Salem.

Environmental groups have expressed support for the extended monitoring but have called for the full publication of data from every station to ensure transparency. Advocates also emphasized the importance of sensor calibration to ensure the accuracy and representativeness of the findings.