(a) whether the Government has seen benefits of installation of smog towers in urban areas of the country in countering air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes the installation of additional smog towers and if so, city-wise details thereof, including the State of Gujarat in particular;
(c) the details of the funds estimated to be incurred in this process; and
(d) the time by which these are likely to be set up?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a)
Major air purification technologies includessmog towers for mitigation of air pollution for control / abatement of urban ambient air pollution. The smog tower is intended for localized reduction of PM2.5 and PM10. The innovative technological solution includes:
• Deployment and Evaluation of Air Purification Units for Traffic Junction Pollution Abatement in Delhi,
• Control of Dust Emissions using dust Suppressant,
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of Air Pollution Mitigation by Pariyayantra Filtration,
• Multiple antenna high density ion generators for pollution control.
(b), (c) & (d) The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 13.01.2020 in Writ Petition (Civil) 13029/1985 had directed for installation of two smog towers. In compliance to the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, two experimental pilot projects of smog towers, one at Anand Vihar by Central Government and another at Connaught Place by Delhi Governmentare operational.
Further utility/ replication in other cities including Gujarat will depend on the performance results of smog towers and other relevant issues.
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