Government to increase tankers to 400 for spraying campaign; IIT Bombay team studying the effect of smog tower
As the city’s air remains toxic, a team from IIT Bombay is studying the effects of a smog tower equipped with 5,000 filters.
There is an over 80% reduction in particulate matter, a major pollutant that enters and leaves the tower. But that’s just the efficiency of the filter; A Delhi government official said it would take time to know the real impact of the tower from afar.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday that the Delhi government will implement a five-point plan, including a campaign against open burning, from Thursday to reduce air pollution.
This open burning campaign will last for a month. This is a joint campaign involving the Delhi Pollution Control Committee; North, East, South Delhi Municipal Corporation; Revenue, Development, Irrigation and Flood Control Department; Delhi Development Authority; Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC); and Cantonment Board. They will crack down on incidents of open burning of garbage,” said Mr. Rai.
The minister said that there are a total of 550 teams in these government bodies, out of which 304 teams will work during the day and the remaining 246 will patrol at night.
He also said that instructions have been issued to the departments to implement the second phase of anti-dust campaign starting from November 12 and ending on December 12.
Regarding the water sprinkling campaign, Mr. Rai said that at present work is being done by the Public Works Department. “The fight will intensify with the deployment of over 400 tankers by the three corporations, the Cantonment Board and the DSIIDC. This will provide some immediate relief from pollution,” he said.
The minister also said that by November 20, the spraying of bio-decomposer in the entire 4,000-acre area would be completed.
Smog Tower, a pilot project, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 23 August. The 24 meter high structure has 40 big fans and 5,000 filters. Fans suck in air that will be cleaned as it passes through the filter.
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