Concerned over the deteriorating air quality in the national Capital, the Delhi Government has decided to install air purification systems at five major intersections in the next two months as a pilot project. The five locations where the systems will be installed are Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Kashmiri Gate, ITO and IIT Delhi/AIIMS.
Delhi Transport Minister Satyendra Jain on Friday said, “A mist fountain will also be installed at one major intersection to purify the air. We have identified five major intersections in Delhi where comprehensive air treatment systems will be installed. If the pilot project is successful, it will be expanded to other intersections as well.”
The Minister added that the air purification system has been designed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) along with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.
“It is a modular system and can be scaled, based on the space available at the intersections. It can even be installed on the central verge of the road,” Jain said.
Talking about the mist fountain that will come up at one location Jain said, “Experts say that it can have a big impact on pollution by arresting the pollutants in the air. Recycled water can be used in this fountain which will be supplied by Delhi Jal Board.”
He added that the Government has set a target of one-and-a-half to two months for both the pilot projects. A Government statement said the purification systems will tackle carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the air.
“The system has potential to reduce carbon monoxide and particulate emission by 40 per cent to 60 per cent in a 20 to 30 metre radius during peak hours of traffic,” the statement said.
The decision was taken at the third meeting of the inter-Ministerial task force set up by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to tackle the issues of air pollution and garbage disposal.
National Director of NEERI Professor Rakesh Kumar, who was also present at the meeting, offered Research and Development support and technical assistance to the Delhi Government.
During the meeting, the Government also decided that the Rajghat Power House will be converted into a waste-to-energy plant by December 2017. Jain had on Wednesday announced that the Government is considering the proposal.
“During the first phase, we will build a capacity to process at least 4,000 tonnes of garbage. We intend to increase it to 6,000 and 8,000 tonnes in subsequent phases,” Jain, who heads the task force, said after the meeting.
He added that Radio Frequency Identifiers (RFID) and weigh-in-motion sensors will also be installed at all entry points to Delhi by July next year.
The Government had on Thursday announced that these devices will be installed to identify overloaded vehicles which are major contributors to pollution.
Asked if the Delhi Government will implement the odd-even scheme during the coming winters, Jain said the Government’s main focus right now is to enforce the bus lane policy which makes it mandatory for buses to ply in the designated lane.
“For that, we will need to remove encroachment on the roads which will significantly reduce congestion and will be more effective than the odd-even scheme to curb pollution,” Jain added.
The Minister also said that the Delhi Government was beginning the work of lighting around 8,000 dark spots in North and East Delhi from Saturday for which a No Objection Certificate has been received from the municipal corporations.