The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) of the NCR and the Delhi Pollution Control Commission (DPCC) have also been directed to ensure the continuous and effective use of anti-smog guns installed at their various C&D locations in their areas.
The move is aimed at mitigating dust from construction and demolition (C&D) activity sites and intensifying measures to improve overall air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“According to the commission’s recent statutory directive, all C&D sites must deploy sufficient numbers of anti-smog guns, according to the following standard based on construction area of at least 1 for a total building area of 5,000 – 10,000 square meters; at least 2 for a total building area Between 1,001 – 15,000 square meters; at least 3 for a total building area between 15,001 – 20,000 square meters; and at least 4 for a total building area of more than 20,000 square metres.
Dust from C&D activities is a major and consistent source of air pollution and negatively contributes to the rise in PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the NCR, the statement said.
Use of treated water to dilute large amounts of dust generated at C&D sites through the use of anti-smog guns, sprinklers etc. with prescribed wet dampers, wind mediators, dust barriers, covering construction materials and C&D debris, and appropriate disposal of C&D waste including That transportation in covered vehicles and so on are some of the steps that C&D projects in NCR should basically follow.
The department said the NCR’s Comprehensive Air Pollution Reduction Policy drafted by the commission in July 2022, towards managing C&D activities to reduce dust, also provided for the deployment of a sufficient number of anti-smog guns at C&D project sites.
Regardless, the revised Gradient Response Action Plan (GRAP) to deal with the adverse air quality scenario that generally prevails in winter in the entire NCR also calls for the enforcement of guidelines for the use of anti-smog guns on construction sites.
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