Congratulations, Shri Kejriwalji
[ A ] What for ?
For installing in Delhi, India’s first Smog Tower ( for reducing air pollution )
Context :
Ø Delhi gets India's first smog tower to combat pollution ……………..( 23 Aug 2021 )
Extract :
Ø Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the country's first smog tower at Connaught Place in Delhi on August 23 and said it will prove to be a milestone and many such structures can be installed in the city if the pilot project yields results.
Ø "This is the first such smog tower in the country. It's a new technology. We have imported it from the US. The structure will suck polluted air from above and release clean air from below. It will purify 1,000 cubic metres of air per second," Kejriwal told.
Ø Tata Projects Limited (TPL) built the smog tower with technical support from IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi, which will analyse its data. NBCC India Ltd. is the project management consultant.
Ø "The experts will analyse the functioning of the smog tower and tell us if it is effective. If it is successful, many such smog towers can be installed across Delhi. If not, we will work on some other technology... I think it will prove to be a milestone," he added. "Data analysis will start immediately. The initial trends will be available within a month... I am also excited to know if we succeeded or not," the chief minister said.
Ø The over 24-metre-tall structure will help improve air quality in a radius of around 1 km.
[ B ] 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-charg
of air quality management, Central Pollution Control Board. [ cpcbagra@rediffmail.com ]
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),
[ C ] Has any other Indian City considered Smog Tower ?
Yes. My following congratulatory e-mail to BMC Councilor Smt Jyotsna Mehta,( with copies to Cabinet Ministers etc ), is self-explanatory :
Sent : Thu 14-03-2019 18:35
To : jdmehta@hotmail.com
As per various reports ( including the latest from UN's " Global Environment Outlook " report compiled by 250 scientists from 70 nations-which took 6 years ), due to Air Pollution,
# Each year , 12 lakh Indians die an early death
# Average age of Delhi citizens stand reduced by 3 years
Can something be done QUICKLY - and ECONOMICALLY - to save these lives ?
Yes, if we challenge our Scientists and encourage our Engineers to experiment with Air Filtration Towers
To save these lives, I beg the politicians and policy makers to take out a few minutes from their election campaigns, to read this
Anti – Pollution Towers
Congratualations, Smt Jyotsnaben Mehta, [ BMC Corporator / Counsillor219.d@mcgm.in ]
For what ?
For moving a notice of motion to set up Anti Pollution Towers in Mumbai to combat air pollution
( Mumbai: In a bid to breathe clean, BJP corporator demands anti-pollution tower )
While moving the notice, Smt Mehta said :
" Delhi and other states have already installed the anti-pollution tower that can remove nearly 90 per cent of the particulate matter ".
She added that the tower can clean air up to 3 km radius and over 75000 people will get clean air to breathe. “
Has this been tried abroad ?
Yes
In Chinese city of Xian, a 100 meter ( 328 feet ) tall air filtration tower was erected last year . It consumes very little electric power and has managed to reduce pollution by 15 %
The full-size version could reach as high as 500 meters ( 1,640 feet ) while the surrounding greenhouses could cover nearly 30 square kilometers ( 11.6 square miles ).
( China built the world’s biggest air purifier – and it is actually working )
Any examples of this technology in India ?
Yes
A startup named Kurin System in India has come up with plans for a "City Cleaner" that will be 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide on each side . It could purify 32 million cubic meters of air everyday
As per the report, Kurin’s co-founder, Pavneet Singh Puri said that the new air purifier will scrub air in the vicinity of three kms and provide clean air for 75,000 people.
It will feature 48 fans to pull in the polluted air and push out clean air, which will run on electricity generated using solar panels. It will be constructed with locally sourced materials.
The company says that the air purifier tower can be completed within four months once the project gets a green light from the authorities and is expected to cost Rs 1.75 crores to 2 crores per tower
How many towers will be needed and what would these cost ?
Each tower ( of Kurin Systems ) claims to purify air in an area of 28.27 sq km ( radius of 3 km )
# Delhi ( NCR ) , with an area of 1484 sq km will need at least 53 towers ( Rs 106 cr @ Rs 2 cr per tower )
# Mumbai with an area of 603 sq km will need 20 towers ( Rs 40 cr @ Rs 2 cr per tower )
Even if the claims of the tower manufacturers are exaggerated and the actual number of towers required is
three times , the capital funds required are insignificant in the annual expense budgets of the municipalities
This requirement of funds must be viewed in the context of BMC ( MCGM ) having a Fixed Deposit of Rs
69,135 crores !
Where can these be erected ?
Having a base of 20 feet X 20 feet ( = 400 sq ft ), these towers cannot be erected on the footpaths
Ideal places would be
# Public Gardens
# Compounds of Government Offices / Municipal Schools
# Compounds of Residential Complexes / Co-Op Housing Societies
Can we think of offering any “ incentives “ to Resi Complexes / Housing Societies ?
If following incentives are offered , builders and societies will rush to set up such towers , in all the polluted cities :
[ A ] Incentive by the Municipal Corporation
# No licensing fees for tower-sides used as hoardings
[ B ] Incentive by the State Government
# 20 % rebate from Property Tax payable by the Societies which put up such towers
[ C ] Incentive by the Central Government
# No income tax on “ Adverising Revenue “ earned by the Housing Society, by renting out the sides of
The Tower that can be used as HOARDINGS ( 20 feet wide x 40 feet tall )
At present , in metro cities, road-side hoardings cost anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 30 lakh
Per month to rent out .
At these rates, Housing Societies can earn a very substantial monthly income by
offering to rent out these towers – as with renting their terraces for mobile towers
If using towers as hoardings is commercially lucrative , why not Bombay Municipality do it on its own ?
Absolutely ! Why not ?
Can the tower manufacturers be motivated to sell these for FREE or for 50 % discount to municipalities ?
Of course !
Just give them the advertising / leasing / renting rights , on the towers for 10 years – and no Income Tax
As simple as that . No other motivation required !
Why does this proposal needs URGENT / TOP PRIORITY examination ?
Just one look at the following statistics will convince you :
# 33 % of global edible food is wasted
# 56 % of such wastage happens in rich countries
# Meat production currently uses 77 % of agricultural land
# Agri production consumes 70 % of global water
# 8 million tons of plastic goes into oceans each year
# Exposure to indoor/outdoor air and water pollution costs at least 9 MILLION lives annually
# Top 10 % emitting countries emit 45 % of total global GHG emissions
# Bottom 50 % emitters emit only 13 % of total global GHG emissions
# Climate mitigation actions for achieving Paris Agreement target will cost US $ 22 trillion
# Combined health benefits from reduced air pollution could amount to $ 54 trillion
# Air pollution causes 6 – 7 million early deaths annually
# In India alone , some 12 lakh persons die an early death due to air pollution
# 15 of the top 20 most polluted cities of the World, are in India
# In all the major cities of India, about 800 to 1000 tons of pollutants are being emitted into the air daily
( source : Millions to die prematurely by ’50 due to pollution: UN )
Fwd: Smog Towers
GurpalSingh { Secy to Minister secylm.delhi@gov.in }
Sent : Thu 21-11-2019 17:47
To : Sanjiv Kumar senv@nic.in
Cc : hcp@recruitguru.com
Sir/ Madam,
This mail is forwarded for information and necessary action in the matter.
Regards,
O/o the Minister (Transport), GNCTD.
Related Readings :
Delhi gets smog tower in Connaught Place: All you need to know about it / HT / 23 Aug 2021
Extract :
The tower has been constructed at a cost of ₹ 20 crore
Delhi: India's own 'smog tower' may help combat air pollution / TOI / 05 Nov 2018
Made-in-India Smog Tower Spells Hope For Delhi, Can Clean 130 Crore Litres of Air Per Day! / BetterIndia / 05 Nov 2018
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