Delhi Pursues Timely Smog Tower Report Submission Before Apex Court

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed officials to expedite the submission of IIT-Bombay's final report on the smog tower's effectiveness in the city to the Supreme Court. The smog tower project, commenced in August 2021, aims to address Delhi's seasonal pollution. The project's efficiency analysis was handled by IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday directed officials to ensure the final IIT-Bombay report on the city's smog tower is submitted to the Supreme Court without delay.

Rai communicated to the principal secretary (environment) that the report, essential for deciding on the continuation of the smog tower's operations, must be submitted promptly. The report's delay was brought to his attention.

Rai emphasized the urgency, especially with winter approaching, highlighting the need for the Supreme Court to review the smog tower's performance before deciding on future steps.

The smog tower, located at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, was inaugurated in August 2021 by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) as a pilot project following Supreme Court directives. It is part of a broader initiative to tackle Delhi's air pollution.

The Delhi government had commissioned the smog tower for a two-year study under DPCC's coordination, involving performance assessments from IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi.

The construction and maintenance were managed by Tata Projects, with NBCC overseeing project management. The initiative, with a budget of Rs 20.42 crore, remains under scrutiny for effectiveness.

(With inputs from agencies.)