ANTI-SMOG CANNON TO HELP CITY COMBAT SEVERE AIR POLLUTION
Delhi govt to launch canon today at Anand Vihar, most polluted area in Delhi
The Delhi government has come up with an anti-smog cannon which would help the city to combat emergency conditions of the environment. The government will launch the cannon at Anand Vihar on Wednesday which is the most polluted area of the city, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
"This is to deal with haze during winters, the Delhi government is mulling over using anti-smog guns to bring down pollution level in the national capital," a senior official of Delhi government said.
This cannon would be effective when the smog in the city would reach the severe category and Delhi government will take help from all the allied departments like Delhi Jal Board to use this machine. The government has also discussed the matter with the experts before confirming the use of this cannon.
The green bodies and the environmentalists of the Capital, however, are critical about the move and said that it would be impossible to handle the whole city's smog and the Delhi government should not spend in such machinery without taking any constructive plan against the local sources of the air pollution.
Environment Secretary Anil Kumar Singh apprised Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of the trial run of anti-smog gun in a meeting to review the detailed action plan of agencies and stakeholders on measures to combat air pollution. In the meeting, the L-G directed authorities to ensure management of municipal solid waste completely in a time frame of 16 months.
"The plan should cover a time-frame not exceeding 16 months and also indicate the exact requirement of funds. The chief secretary has been asked to coordinate and finalise it," the L-G office said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Environment Minister Imran Hussain reviewed the trial of the fog cannon to control dust particulate matter at the Delhi Secretariat. L-G also directed all three corporations to ensure that no methane fires occur at the three landfill sites and for this, help should be sought from experts of the Science & Technology Ministry, the statement read.
The L-G also asked all three municipal commissioners to procure the requisite mechanical sweepers, litter pickers, water sprinklers within a stipulated time. In the meeting, Baijal was informed that Badarpur Thermal Power Station will be permanently closed by July 2018.
"It was also informed that at present over 800 acres ash pond is in O Zone and NHAI is lifting 600 MT ash daily. The L-G stressed on optimal future utilisation of this huge land parcel. Apart from this, measures to provide full gas for Bawana plant were also discussed," the statement stated.