What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced new pollution control measures, mandating anti-smog guns in high-rise buildings, commercial centers, hotels, and construction sites. The initiative, launched after a high-level meeting with MCD and NDMC officials, includes converting all airport vehicles to green alternatives and introducing 10,000 EVs by 2026. The government is also considering cloud seeding and repurposing landfill sites into green spaces. However, experts warn that addressing emissions from industries, transport, and fossil fuels is essential for lasting improvement. Delhi's air quality crisis remains a pressing challenge requiring multi-pronged action.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced new measures to rein in the city's spiraling air pollution levels by prioritizing the installation of anti-smog guns in high-rise buildings, hotels, commercial centers, and large establishments, including airports and construction sites. The move is aimed at easing the city's severe air quality issues and improving the local environment, which has been a reigning topic in the recent polls. Sirsa emphasized the need for Delhi to get its own pollution in order before seeking action from outside, stating that all departments involved would prepare a detailed roadmap to combat the issue.
The directive, issued after a high-level meeting with the officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), includes a new set of pollution control devices. The MCD has been directed by the government to prepare a list of the already constructed and under-construction high-rise buildings which would be subject to the new pollution norms. Separate guidelines would be prescribed for the existing and upcoming projects for easier implementation of the environmental provisions.
The plan also includes converting all vehicles operating in the Delhi airport to green ones, with a target to introduce at least 10,000 electric vehicles into the city by 2026. Sirsa also referred to the need for large establishments to contribute actively to pollution control by increasing greenery around them. Alongside these steps, the Delhi government is in the process of reducing landfill waste, with plans to convert cleaned landfill sites into parks and forests.
To tackle the problem of air pollution in the months of peak smog, the government is looking at cloud seeding as a feasible option. Sirsa assured that the necessary permissions would be expedited to make this an available option. Further, organizations like IIT Delhi would be involved in ongoing endeavors to find more efficient and long-lasting solutions for pollution management.
The new initiatives coincide with ongoing efforts to improve Delhi's infrastructure. The city has long struggled with its air quality, which is one of the worst among major global cities. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), more than half of Delhi's pollution comes from within the city itself, including from transportation, industries, and construction. Sirsa's call to fix these internal issues is a recognition of the need for a comprehensive approach to pollution control.
In other related real estate and environment news, other cities like Mumbai and Bangalore have also been taking similar measures to counter pollution. In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued proposals for reducing emissions from vehicles and introducing more green spaces in the urban landscape, while Bangalore has been trying to reduce industrial pollution by implementing stricter controls on emissions.
Delhi's challenge, however, remains the scale of its pollution, which has reached alarming levels. A multi-pronged approach, including stricter enforcement of emission standards, greater use of green technologies, and effective urban planning, will be necessary to make lasting changes. The introduction of anti-smog guns is just one part of the solution, but it will need to be complemented by stronger, more comprehensive actions to achieve significant improvements in the city's air quality.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023