‘Anti-smog cannon’ to curb Delhi’s air pollution

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government has unveiled a new method against the air pollution an “anti-smog gun”.  The manufacturers of the anti-smog cannon says that the fine droplets of water ejected at high speed can flush out deadly airborne pollutants in one of the world’s smoggiest capitals.

The water mist cannons or “anti-smog guns have undergone daylong trials carried by the Department of Environment and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee in one of the Delhi’s most polluted area i.e. AnandVihar, an area in northern Delhi

A machine is well connected to a water tank and mounted on a flatbed truck and sprays atomized water, in which liquid is broken up into smaller droplets that is up to 230 feet into the air.

The idea of working of the machine is that the droplets merge with dust particles, replicating the effect of rain. Rain lowers levels of air pollution by bringing particulates in pollution down to the ground.

In 2015, use of these kinds of machines was widely reported in China, and they could soon become a familiar site on the streets of Delhi.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who witnessed the tests, said “the idea came about in a series of meetings, where even helicopters sprinkling water on the city were suggested.”

If the trial is successful, the machines will be used across the city when pollution levels rise, according to Hussain.

“These only work in a very local situation like a construction site, if you want to douse the dust, then you do this for an immediate and instantaneous effect, but this is not what you would use to control air pollution,” said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment.

Pollution control measures should give you sustained improvement over time, she said. “The government needs to focus on systemic changes, infrastructural changes so that they can effectively control pollution across the city.”

The machines known as the fog cannon are made by Cloud Tech, an Indian firm based in Haryana state, which borders Delhi.