In the last few
days, following news appeared in News papers :
Ø Set
up air purifier towers, CM tells Chahal
( 03 Feb / HT )
Extract :
The country’s first smog tower was inaugurated in
Connaught Place, New Delhi, in August 2021, followed by a second one in Anand
Vihar, in September of the same year.
At the time the devices were touted as a
solution for the Capital’s mounting problem of air pollution. Delhi’s
environment minister Gopal Rai even said that the devices, priced at ₹20 crore each, can “filter out 80 per cent of particulate
matter”, much to the amusement of scientists.
The devices stand at an imposing height of 20 metres, and are fitted
with 5,000 high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which clean 1,000 cubic metres of air per second, using 40 large fans
to help pass air through the device.
Recent reports however have suggested that they have been
inefficient at reducing ambient air pollution, just as experts had red-flagged
multiple times prior to their inauguration.
Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the
University of York, and Science Director at the National Centre for Atmospheric
Science, has argued that they simply cannot
process large volumes of air, in enough time, to make any dent to the problem.
Sunil Dahiya, an analyst with the Centre for Research on
Energy and Clean Air, said,
“These devices have not, and cannot work. Besides, as they are
being powered by coal-fired electricity, they are in fact adding to pollution in some other
part of the country.”
BMC
Budget: Plans for improving air quality in Mumbai / Ind
Express / 05 Feb 2023
Extract :
The civic body has also said that it will install 14
air-purifier towers in Mumbai (Two towers each in the seven municipal
zones of city). It is pertinent to note that similar smog
towers have been installed by the authorities in several north Indian
cities, Delhi, Gurugram, Lucknow and Chandigarh to curb air-pollution level. However
municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator, Iqbal Singh Chahal
said that the towers in Mumbai doesn’t
resemble those of any other city.
Each tower will be 30-feet
long and will have a capacity to purify the air within a
one-kilometer radius. The approximate cost of each tower will be around Rs 3.5 crore. The towers will operate through radio waves and electromagnetic action
“These towers will be equipped to cut down
the suspended pollutant materials in air by 45%. We are not following examples of
other cities and have carried our own feasibility study through independent experts
before taking the call for setting up these towers,” said Chahal on Saturday.
Aaditya
calls CM’s directive to install air purifier towers in Mumbai ‘eyewash’
My Take :
I wish Shri Chahal had an opportunity to read my following emails before
committing Rs
Ø
Anti
– Pollution Towers …………………………………..[ 14 Mar 2019 ]
Ø
Congratulations,
Shri Kejriwalji ………………………[ 23 Aug 2021 ]
Extract :
What do DOMAIN EXPERTS say re efficacy of Smog Towers ?
2
years ago , I had following E Mail exchange with EXPERTS at CSIR / NEERI :
On 16-Nov-2019, at 6:37 AM,
Hemen
Parekh <hcp@recruitguru.com> wrote to :
Shri Sagnik Deyji / Shri Rakesh Kumarji / Shri V K
Shuklaji,
News : Explore hydrogen fuel, smog towers to combat
toxic air, Supreme Court tells Centre
Extract :
Ø " I am not sure about the effectiveness of such purifiers
because they have not been tried in Delhi. ", Sagnik Dey, Centre for
Atmospheric Sciences. [ sagnik@cas.iitd.ac.in ]
Ø “We do not have a prototype as of now .The one in Beijing
hasn’t been very successful in curbing ambient air pollution but it definitely
reduces concentrations. These towers can run on electrical power as solar isn’t
very effective in winter. Depending on the amount of air it sucks in, such
towers could cost anywhere between Rs 2 and Rs 5 crore,” said Rakesh Kumar,
director, CSIR-
[ rakeshmee@rediffmail.com / r_kumar@neeri.res.in / director@neeri.res.in ]
“They are effective in a limited area. We have
documented some benefits,” said VK Shukla, in-charge
Ø Officers of CSIR / CPCB, may want to check up :
Anti – Pollution
Towers
[ 14 Mar 2019
]
With
regards,
Hemen
Parekh
Re: Smog Towers
sent : Sun 17-11-2019 17:12
To : Hemen
Parekh hcp@recruitguru.com
Dear Mr Parekh,
Thanks for sharing.
These smog towers are not something which
can’t be designed and built in India but it’s important to note that in absence of control on sources, these will have limited success.
We had already designed a few years back
but we realised that ambient air volume correction using this option may not be lasting solutions. The system
devised not only particulate but also gaseous emissions.
Much before china smog tower was
discussed, we had made a system which will address traffic junction as we are
dealing with smaller volume.
Major sources control work always
Best
Dr. Rakesh Kumar
Director
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI),
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 06
Feb 2023