New Delhi: In view of the city's worsening air quality, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Monday evening launched an anti-smog mist spray operation in Dwarka, covering a 550-metre stretch near the junction of sectors 6 and 7. Under the pilot project, 14 electricity poles on the central verge have been retrofitted with 30 nozzles each to spray mist for 24 hours on the stretch.
Lieutenant governor V K Saxena, who monitored the trial run, said if the operation proves to be effective, it will be replicated in four other places in the area, and he would also advise Delhi govt to adopt it in the entire city.
"Pollution is increasing in Delhi and people are very troubled by it. DDA has done a successful experiment. In the past three-four days of testing, I was informed pollution has reduced by 20-25%. If efforts are made to gradually install such systems in the entire city, there can be a lot of difference in the pollution levels," he said.
A DDA official said the mist spray operation in Dwarka is Delhi's first ‘static' anti-smog drive. "The comprehensive setup is designed to maximise pollutant reduction and enhance air quality in the area."
Four large water tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 litres, have been installed to support the operation. The tanks supply RO-treated water to ensure purity of the mist generated. Additionally, the system incorporates sustainable practices by utilising the wastewater from the operation for roadside plantation efforts, contributing to the area's greenery.
"To evaluate the efficacy of the anti-smog system, DDA has roped in NEERI to conduct an in-depth study. It will assess the impact of the misting technology on the ambient air quality, providing valuable data to inform future environmental strategies and expansions across Delhi. The organisation will check the AQI level before and after the beginning of the mist operation to get comparative figures," said the official.