New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) With air quality worsening in the national capital, the PWD has constituted committees to inspect and ensure the functioning of 200 truck-mounted anti-smog guns to keep dust pollution under control, officials said on Tuesday.
Two committees, having eight Public Works Department (PWD) officials, will oversee inspections of 200 truck-mounted anti-smog guns being deployed under a pollution control plan.
“No vehicle will be permitted to be installed, operated or deployed unless its fitness is certified by the committees constituted under the order. The committees will conduct field-level inspections in accordance with the terms and conditions of the tender and verify the equipment within their respective jurisdictions,” an order said.
The department has made it mandatory for every anti-smog gun to undergo physical inspection and functional verification.
The anti-smog guns will also be deployed at construction sites and other areas as part of measures to curb air pollution, following Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s recent direction to strengthen monitoring ahead of the winter season.
According to officials, the PWD plans to launch a special drive for deep cleaning and dust control along all its 1,400-km road network.
As per the plan, two hundred anti-smog guns will be tasked with deep cleaning at least 200 metres of road daily.
“The activities include removal of dust from road areas, cleaning of kerb channels and bell mouths, debris removal, and coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,” officials said.
An anti-smog gun sprays atomised water to settle dust and other suspended particles in the atmosphere. Mounted on a vehicle equipped with a water tank, it can spray water up to a height of 50 metres to settle dust particles and PM 2.5.
The committees will oversee inspections in the Shahdara, East, North-East, Project, South, South-East and South-West circles of PWD.
PWD has directed all its executive engineers of road maintenance divisions to immediately arrange field inspections, coordinate with the committees and facilitate the verification of anti-smog guns falling under their respective jurisdictions. PTI SSM NB
