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 Chandiga
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 50 Cr ( for 14 towers ) :
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 /
“They are effective in a limited area. We have documented some benefits,” said VK Shukla, in-charge 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),
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 06 Feb 2023
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