‘Smog towers no solution’: Centre not in favor of installing more giant air purifiers, say sources

NEW DELHI: The central government sources indicated on Thursday that smog towers are not viewed as a viable solution to the air pollution issue in Delhi-NCR.

Additionally, the government is not inclined towards installing more large-scale air purifiers.

At an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, officials from the Commission for Air Quality Management, along with representatives from concerned states and ministries, deliberated on the efficacy of smog towers in addressing air pollution, PTI reported.

The news agency quoted the sources as also saying that stubble burning in Punjab is the major reason behind air pollution in Delhi-NCR during the paddy harvesting season.

According to a source, smog towers are not seen as a solution to the air pollution problem in Delhi-NCR, and the central government is not inclined to install more of such structures in the future.

In 2021, two smog towers were set up in Delhi: one at Connaught Place under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and another at Anand Vihar under the Central Pollution Control Board, following directives from the Supreme Court.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai asserted that the smog tower at Connaught Place was temporarily closed down due to “unilateral” instructions from Ashwani Kumar of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

This Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a directive for the smog tower at Connaught Place to be made operational.
On Wednesday, a team of officers from the Delhi government took action to restart the smog tower.
With agency inputs