Smoky Blues

Yet another smog tower has come up in Delhi after much delay to battle air pollution. This was after a Supreme Court order and a warning that any violation would be treated as contempt

- Abhilash Kumar Singh

ON November 12, 2020, a first-of-its-kind giant air purifier was installed in Gandhi Nagar market, famous as Asia’s largest readymade garments and textile hub. The 12-ft-high air purifier which will cover an area of 1,000 sq m and deliver two lakh cubic metres of clean air every day, was funded by East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir. Two more air purifiers will be installed.

Gambir reportedly said: “I know these air purifiers will not solve the problem completely but something has to be done. They will have a major impact on people living nearby.” He wondered why the Delhi government had not banned crackers throughout the year when it knew the air quality of the city was so bad. “Why ban them only before festivals?” he asked.

In January, as a pilot project, Gambhir had inaugurated a smog tower in Lajpat Nagar’s Central Market. Following a positive response from people there, Gambhir decided to instal more air purifiers in markets across East Delhi. In terms of technology, the new purifiers are more advanced and have additional features like high mast lights.

It was in January that the Supreme Court had given its nod to the centre’s proposal of installing smog towers to curb rising pollution levels in the NCR. On January 13, the Court asked the Central Pollution Control Board to instal smog towers in Connaught Place and Anand Vihar within three months. But no proper steps were taken to do so. This was noted by the Court, which said: “Since steps are being taken and undertakings have been furnished, we have not proceeded for violation of the order passed by this court, only on the basis of the action taken and undertakings furnished to complete the project. Let the project be positively completed within 10 months.”