Sprinklers and Smog-Busters to Reduce Dust

Agencies involved have stepped up their efforts to combat dust pollution as the Delhi government prepares a summer action plan to address air pollution. The environment department has produced a report that reveals roughly 47 kilometers of formerly unpaved road have been paved. In order to reduce dust, more than 300 water tankers are hired to sprinkling 2,200 kilometers of road with water each day.

The Delhi government publishes a summer action plan each year to reduce pollution from April to September.

“The summer action plan, which is being prepared on the lines of the previous years, will be ready soon,” a top official said. They also said that the citywide enforcement of dust control measures was being stepped up.

Dust is one of the main causes of pollution in the summer. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducted a source apportionment research in 2018 that found that dust from construction, roads, and soil contributed 38% of PM2.5 and 42% of PM10 to Delhi’s summertime air pollution. However, during the winter, it contributes 17% of PM2.5 and 25% of PM10.

The environment department’s research indicated that Delhi has a 19,177.1-kilometer road network. Of these, 47 km of road has been paved in the previous two months, leaving 420.5 km of unpaved road. According to a government source, Delhi collects 94 MT of dust on average every day. In Okhla, Bhalswa, Ghazipur, Shastri Park, Begumpur, and Burari, the gathered dust is disposed of.

To reduce the dust, more than 300 water sprinklers—including water tankers—have been put into place. A water sprinkler can cover 2,265.7 kilometers of road per day with a capacity of 1,000–9,000 liters.
48 government buildings already have anti-smog guns installed, and the agencies have selected 56 additional buildings for the installation of these weapons. In addition, 50 private buildings already have anti-smog cannons installed, and work is ongoing on 24 more.

“All government agencies have been instructed to locate more high-rise structures so that anti-smog weapons may be installed there. Additionally, PWD would get cash from the environment department of Rs 40.8 crore in 2023–2024 for mobile anti-smog weapons, according to an official.

9,568 potholes or patches had been rectified, according to a report presented at a meeting with officials from all relevant authorities to evaluate the work done by dust control management cells.