JAIPUR, Nov. 12 -- Rajasthan has launched a month-long special environmental monitoring drive in six cities falling in the National Capital Region (NCR), covering air, water and soil quality, even as half of the 34 cities monitored in the state recorded lower Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Diwali this year compared with last year. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) is conducting the special exercise from November 2 to November 30 in Alwar, Bhiwadi, Khairthal, Bharatpur, Deeg and Kotputli in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The exercise includes monitoring ambient air quality and collecting water and soil samples for testing to assess the overall environmental quality in these areas. Meanwhile, the board's Diwali monitoring data showed that 17 of the 34 cities recorded a decline in AQI on November 8 compared with last year. Dausa recorded the lowest AQI of 124, while Khairthal registered the highest at 362. Dausa recorded the sharpest improvement, with its AQI declining by 44.4%, followed by Bhilwara at 43.5%. RSPCB member secretary Kapil Chandrawal said the board was monitoring air quality round the clock through 50 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations spread across 37 districts of the state. The board also conducted a comparative assessment of noise pollution at 58 locations across 25 districts, comparing readings taken seven days before Diwali with those recorded on the festival day. The findings showed that 12 cities recorded a decline in daytime noise pollution, while 13 reported a reduction in nighttime noise levels compared with last year. Banswara recorded the highest reduction, with daytime noise levels declining by 25.4% and nighttime levels by 38.6%. However, some cities reported an increase. Jhunjhunu recorded a 16.6% rise in daytime noise levels, while Bhiwadi registered an 8.2% increase at night. The maximum daytime noise level was recorded in Jhunjhunu at 84.1 dB(A), while Ajmer recorded the highest nighttime level at 86 dB(A). In Jaipur, where noise levels were monitored at eight locations, Raja Park recorded highest decline of 14.3% during the day, while Mansarovar reported a 3.7% reduction at night. However, daytime noise levels increased by 9.3% in both Sitapura and Mansarovar, while Sitapura recorded an 8.7% increase at night. The maximum daytime noise level in the city was recorded in Mansarovar at 86.6 dB(A), while Raja Park registered the highest nighttime level at 91.4 dB(A)....