Delhi Govt Takes Aim At Air Pollution, Mandates Anti-Smog Guns For All Commercial High-Rises

News18

2 days ago

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The designated buildings must install anti-smog guns within six months and operate them year-round, excluding the monsoon season from June 15 to October 1
To combat air pollution in Delhi, the city government has mandated the year-round installation of anti-smog guns on all high-rise commercial buildings. Residential buildings are exempt from this order, which applies to commercial complexes, malls, hotels with a built-up area exceeding 3,000 square metres, and office/institutional buildings with a height of ground plus five floors (G+5) or more.
The department of environment, under minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, issued the directive under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
All year, with monsoon break
The designated buildings must install anti-smog guns within six months and operate them year-round, excluding the monsoon season from June 15 to October 1.
The government has stipulated that each building must deploy a minimum number of guns proportionate to its built-up area, starting with three guns for areas below 10,000 square metres and increasing by one gun for every additional 5,000 square metres.
'The equipment must be mounted to the building's parapet wall using fixed brackets and not mobile trailers. Each smog gun should be capable of a horizontal mist throw of 75 to 100 metres and produce droplets between 5 to 20 microns in size to effectively target airborne particulate matter like PM2.5 and PM10," an official statement explained.
The department stated that the directive stems from consistent observations indicating the need for stringent measures to reduce suspended particulate matter and directed the use of anti-smog guns in high-pollution urban areas.
'This step is emphasised by the alarming deterioration in air quality observed during the October to January winter months. The city endured prolonged periods of 'Very Poor' to 'Severe' air quality, significantly underscoring the urgent need for effective environmental interventions," the department added.
Sirsa noted that for years, this aspect of pollution control has been either advisory or seasonal.
'What we've done today is historic. For the first time, Delhi has acted with legal clarity to curb a long-ignored pollution source. This is accountability in action," he stated.
Operations
The smog guns are to be operated intermittently during peak pollution hours—6.30 to 9.30 am, 5.30 to 8.30 pm, and 1.30 to 4.30 am—in short bursts to maximise effectiveness and conserve electricity and water.
Operation must not exceed 1,200 litres per hour or 10,000 litres over an eight-hour day. Only treated water should be used to operate these guns.
The equipment should have minimal sound output from blowers and, where feasible, include integrated air quality monitoring sensors. Buildings between seven and 10 storeys are considered optimal for generating effective ground-level mist dispersion.
Around mid-May, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Delhi exceeded 300 due to a severe dust storm that also affected the city's visibility. Typically, with the onset of winter, the city's air quality deteriorates to poor or severe categories, persisting for weeks.
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