Diwali is incomplete without burning of crackers. But burning crackers have adverse effect on environment and humans. Loud noise along with smoke produced by crackers could be deadly. Tests conducted last week found none of the popular crackers available in market making noise within the legally permissible limit. 

The test to measure the decibel levels of crackers found almost every cracker exceeded the fixed limit. Every cracker that was tested made noise way above the day-time legally permissible limit of 55 dB. These tests were conducted by Mumbai Police, the Maharashtra Pollution Control board and the NGO Awaz Foundation. 

Twenty-three different varieties of crackers - bombs, flower pots, fountains and rockets - manufactured by different companies were tested.

Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation said : "Even the aerial fountains and light-based crackers had high sound levels, in the 89.2 dB-113 .2 dB range, which is way above the permissible limit ''. 

The tests showed that the sutli bombs had sound levels in the range of 114.6 dB-133 .4 dB and the serial bombs recorded 114.6 dB-133 .4 dB of sound.  

Joint commissioner of police (law and order) K L Prasad said that we have sent the report to the explosive department and will assist it in nabbing people who flout norms.

Draft regulation has been prepared by the government for stipulating noise-pollution norms for bursting of crackers. 

Abdulali said:"The draft is yet to be notified but there will be a comprehensive policy vis-a vis noise pollution once it comes into effect,''.