Conformity to ambient air quality standards in respect of noise from bursting of firecrackers could not be determined in Erode district during Deepavali as there was no testing carried out by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. According to official sources, the noise level was not monitored in the district. Guidelines As per the Supreme Court directive, State Pollution Control Boards are required to ensure that its guidelines on noise levels are adhered to. Report A report has to be compiled and sent to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the extent of noise generated at locations categorised as industrial area, commercial area, residential area and silence zone, during day time (6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.) and night time (10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.). In industrial area permitted decibel is 75 during day time and 70 during night time. In commercial area, it is 65 and 55, and in residential area, the permitted level is 55 and 45. In silence zone, 50 decibels is permitted during day time and 40 during night time. An area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places or any other area which is declared as such by competent authority is considered silence zone. Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control), Rules 2000 was amended and updated in 2010, requiring the State governments to take measures for abatement of noise including noise emanating from vehicular movements, blowing of horns, bursting of sound emitting firecrackers, use of loudspeakers or public address system and sound producing instruments and ensure that the existing noise levels do not exceed the specified ambient air quality standards. The State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board must collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to noise pollution and measures devised for its effective prevention, control and abatement. Complaint As per the rule, sound emitting firecrackers must not be burst in silence zone or during night time. If the noise level exceeds the ambient noise standards by 10 decibels or more, a complaint could be made to the authority for action against the violator.