EDMC to use sprinklers to fight air pollution

NEW DELHI: In a wake to curb the rising pollution in Delhi, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has planned to introduce 40 truck mounted mist-fogging sprinklers to settle the dust particles during peak pollution seasons in Delhi under its jurisdiction. These sprinklers will be attached to water tankers of 9000 litres capacity and will be put for service in a day for eight hours.

A senior EDMC official said, “These sprinklers will consume less water and work in a bigger area at a time. We will primarily use them at the hotspots identified for high pollution levels. We will run these sprinklers using the truck engine and not engage separate ones. This will not only save cost but also reduce pollution from fuel emission.”

Recently, a list released by Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) identified 13 hotspots in Delhi where the pollution level is much higher than city’s average. These hotspots are identified after conducting surveys by various agencies, include Okhla Phase-II, Dwarka, Mayapuri and RK Puram in south Delhi; Anand Vihar (including Mandoli) and Vivek Vihar in east; and Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, Rohini and Jahangirpuri in north Delhi. Out of these 13 hotspots, two places – Vivek Vihar and Anand Vihar comes under EDMC jurisdiction, and the sprinklers will be installed as per the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) said an official.

Dilraj Kaur, EDMC Commissioner said that the civic body officials have been directed to periodically do patrolling in both day and night to keep the plan in check.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) have also begun sprinkling water in the industrial area under its jurisdiction from October 14.