Environmentalists Raise Questions on Capability of Delhi's Smog Tower to Curb Air Pollution

The Delhi government had on many occasions claimed that the smog tower installed at Cannaught Place has a 'noticeable impact' on reducing air pollution within a 300-metre radius.

However, on visiting the site at Cannaught Place, the tower was not found in running condition. On being asked about its status, the staff present at the site said that it had been stopped temporarily just one hour back, as the humidity in the atmosphere had risen beyond a certain level.

"When the system indicates moisture or humidity goes beyond 70 per cent, we stop the facility," one staff said.

"All the regulations and running criteria are being passed by a research team, which instructs us as per the deviation in the weather," he added.

However, environmental experts have different opinions on the effectiveness of smog towers, and they mostly dismiss the reports citing faults in the methodology.

"There is no scientific research or basis behind the functioning of smog towers. Whatever studies have been conducted so far on the effectiveness claim of smog towers have shown that they are not helping in curbing air pollution," Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, an independent non-profit environmental research and innovation organisation, told IANS.

More than a technology to reduce pollution, Bhushan said, the smog tower has become an object for the government to show that it is working to fight pollution.

"Such technology is not feasible in Delhi on two grounds - first, there is no scientific evidence, and the second is high cost. If the Delhi government really wants to fight pollution, it should provide subsidised LPG to those living on the outskirts of the city who use wood and coal for cooking. Also, the government must invest in public transport so that pollution in the city can be reduced," Bhushan said.

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The above article has been published from a wire source with minimal modifications to the headline and text.