Delhi Air Pollution | Smog Towers Ineffective, Existing Towers Can Be Used As Museum: Pollution Control Committee To NGT

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the smog towers in Delhi reduces only 17% of air pollutants in a 100 m radius which is “not even a drop in an ocean.”

Stating that to cater the Delhi requirement over 40,000 towers will be required, it was submitted that, “Delhi has an area of 1,483 sq. kms. Its maximum Iength is 51.90 kms and greatest width is 48.48 kms. 10 to 17% of reduction in a 100 m radius ie 0.0314 Sq km per tower that too at the capital cost of rupees 25 crores with the recurring cost of 10 to 15 lakh per month per Smog Tower is not at al justified. It is not even a drop in an ocean. This is the precise reason that the smog Tower installed by government of India being monitored by ministry of environment in forest Government of India in pursuance of Honorable Supreme Court order dated 13th January, 2020 is not being operated even at a location of highest air quality index of Dethi i.e. Anand Vihar.”

The Committee further submitted that the installation of smog towers to curb pollution in Delhi cannot be the “practical solution” and experiment results of two towers installed at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place are “not at all encouraging.”

“Smog Tower already erected may be used for dissemination of the technical information about control of air pollution as a museum”, added the Committee.

The report was filed in pursuance of NGT’s directions issued in Suo moto action taken against deteriorating air quality index in Delhi.

While noting that CPPCB, NCT Delhi has filed the report, the bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastva, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, “the above agencies in their reports have taken the stand that they are taking steps to control air pollution in Delhi but the ground result is not satisfactory.”

While listing the matter for November 20, the Tribunal said, “Since no visible improvement in the air quality has been witnessed therefore the respondents are directed to take stringent measures so that the air Quality index in Delhi and NCR improves. Hence, let the fresh action taken report be tiled by the concerned agencies on or before the next date of hearing.”

Case Title: In re: News item published in Indian Express dated 07.10.2023 titled “GRAP Stage 1 kicks in as air quality dips to poor, condition likely to prevail till Sunday”

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