Bikaner, Nov. 7 -- For patients at Bikaner's PBM Hospital, designated a silence zone, noise levels have remained more than 30 decibels above the permitted night-time limit on Diwali for three consecutive years. Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) records show that noise reached 72.7 decibels between 10pm and midnight on Diwali 2025, against the prescribed limit of 40 decibels. The problem extends beyond the festival. The Board's July 2026 ambient-noise bulletin recorded levels above permissible standards at all six monitored non-industrial locations in Bikaner, spanning residential, commercial and silence zones. The findings come as the Bikaner Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated a tender worth Rs.92.44 lakh to install noise barriers at selected locations. However, the tender does not specify the expected decibel reduction or acoustic performance of the proposed barriers. An analysis of RSPCB's Diwali monitoring reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025 shows repeated violations at three locations monitored across all three years. At PBM Hospital, readings remained above 72 decibels across the three years - 72.9 in 2023, 72.1 in 2024 and 72.7 in 2025. At Junagarh, a commercial area, levels rose from 77.4 decibels in 2024 to 82.2 in 2025, against the limit of 55 decibels. The 2025 report also shows a sharp Diwali-related spike. At Kanta Khaturia Colony, night-time noise rose from 51.6 decibels before Diwali on October 13 to 83.8 on October 20. At PBM Hospital, it increased from 60.6 to 72.7, while at Junagarh it climbed from 67.9 to 82.2. The July 2026 bulletin reinforces the citywide nature of the problem. Junagarh Circle recorded 68.9 decibels during the day and 62.7 at night, against commercial limits of 65 and 55. At PBM Hospital, readings stood at 61.7 and 58.7, against silence-zone limits of 50 and 40. Government Hospital also recorded levels above the prescribed limits. The BMC tender estimates the project at Rs.92,44,065.18, with a six-month execution period. Its bill of quantities lists steel tubular trusses, polycarbonate sheets and synthetic enamel painting but does not specify acoustic performance standards. Commissioner Siddharth Palanichami did not respond to calls and messages seeking comments on the locations selected, expected noise reduction and measures to address pollution across the city....