{"id":3766,"date":"2025-03-23T15:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T15:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/?p=3766"},"modified":"2025-03-24T08:56:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T08:56:22","slug":"smog-tower-in-delhi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/","title":{"rendered":"Smog Tower in Delhi: Working, Effect, Concerns and Way Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Government of Delhi has ordered the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to restart the smog tower located in Connaught Place at full capacity. The decision comes after the Supreme Court issued directions in this matter.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#What_is_Smog_Tower\" title=\"What is Smog Tower?\">What is Smog Tower?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#What_is_the_Working_of_Smog_Tower\" title=\"What is the Working of Smog Tower?\">What is the Working of Smog Tower?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#%E2%80%98Updraft_Air_Cleaning_System\" title=\"&#8216;Updraft Air Cleaning System\u2019\">&#8216;Updraft Air Cleaning System\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#%E2%80%98Downdraft_Air_Cleaning_System\" title=\"\u2018Downdraft Air Cleaning System\u2019\">\u2018Downdraft Air Cleaning System\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#About_Delhi_Smog_Tower\" title=\"About Delhi Smog Tower\">About Delhi Smog Tower<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#What_is_the_Effect_of_the_Smog_Tower_in_Delhi\" title=\"What is the Effect of the Smog Tower in Delhi?\">What is the Effect of the Smog Tower in Delhi?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#Benefits_of_a_Smog_Tower\" title=\"Benefits of a Smog Tower\">Benefits of a Smog Tower<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#What_are_the_Concerns_related_to_the_Smog_Tower\" title=\"What are the Concerns related to the Smog Tower?\">What are the Concerns related to the Smog Tower?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#Way_Forward\" title=\"Way Forward&nbsp;\">Way Forward&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/smog-tower-in-delhi\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Smog_Tower\"><\/span><strong>What is Smog Tower?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Smog Towers<\/strong>, as the name signifies, are pollution-reducing or air-purifying structures. Large fans take polluted air inside them, pass it through a series of filters, and release clean air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Working_of_Smog_Tower\"><\/span><strong>What is the Working of Smog Tower?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>smog tower<\/strong> works in either of the two ways as explained below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98Updraft_Air_Cleaning_System\"><\/span><strong>&#8216;Updraft Air Cleaning System\u2019<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this type of system, the air is drawn in from the ground level and is forced upward by convection and heating. At the top of the tower, filtered air is released.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98Downdraft_Air_Cleaning_System\"><\/span><strong>\u2018Downdraft Air Cleaning System\u2019<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The top of the smog tower sucks in the polluted air, sends it down to the filters, and releases clean air from the lower section of the tower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_Delhi_Smog_Tower\"><\/span><strong>About Delhi Smog Tower<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Smog Tower in Delhi is the country&#8217;s first &#8216;smog tower\u2019. It was inaugurated by the Delhi CM after the Honourable Supreme Court of India directed their installation in Delhi to give relief to the people inhaling toxic air.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 24-meter-tall smog tower in Delhi can filter 1,000 cubic meters of air each second within a one-kilometer radius.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The tower is equipped with 40 fans and 5000 filters that draw in contaminated air and release cleansed air.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is another smog tower in Anand Vihar, another pollution hotspot in Delhi.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Effect_of_the_Smog_Tower_in_Delhi\"><\/span><strong>What is the Effect of the Smog Tower in Delhi?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The smog tower located in Delhi can purify the air in a one-km radius at a rate of around 1,000 cubic meters per second. The differential readings cast doubts on the effectiveness of the technology:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Data given by Delhi Minister: <\/strong>According to the NCT of Delhi minister, the giant air purifier can cut down air pollution by 70 to 80 percent within a radius of 50 meters and by 15 to 20 percent beyond 300 meters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>DPCC Study:<\/strong> According to the Delhi Pollution Control Commission (DPCC) the reduction in Particulate Matter (PM) was minuscule running from 12 to 13 percent at a distance of 100 meters from the structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_of_a_Smog_Tower\"><\/span><strong>Benefits of a Smog Tower<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pollution Reduction:<\/strong> The primary benefit of Smog Tower is the reduction of airborne Particulate Matter (PM). The contaminated and polluted air is taken into the structure, passed through a series of filters, and clean air is released back into the atmosphere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quick Fix Solution: <\/strong>They can be fitted in a small space and can work as a quick fix solution in air pollution hotspots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Health Benefits<\/strong>: The installation of the smog tower reduces pollution-induced diseases like respiratory infections, heart disease, lung cancer, etc. in the area.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Concerns_related_to_the_Smog_Tower\"><\/span><strong>What are the Concerns related to the Smog Tower?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts have raised concerns related to the smog towers. They are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Expensive Installation and Maintenance: <\/strong>They are expensive, temporary solutions for which there is little scientific support for their long-term advantages.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 24-meter-tall Smog tower in Delhi was built at a cost of&nbsp; \u20b920 crore and aimed to purify air within a 1 km radius around the structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Efficacy of the System:<\/strong> According to Delhi Pollution Control Board and IIT Bombay the smog towers are not efficient enough to curb the pollution menace in Delhi. The reduction can be noticed in the incoming and outgoing air but such difference in larger regions is not noticed by various experts.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study by DPCC noted that the reduction in Particulate Matter (PM) was minuscule running from 12 to 13 percent at a distance of 100 meters from the structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Scientific Evidence to Back the Utility of the System: <\/strong>The concept seems to curb air pollution by technically making use of filters but there is no scientific backing to its working.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Way_Forward\"><\/span><strong>Way Forward&nbsp;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Holistic Study: <\/strong>Amid the lack of scientific evidence about the efficacy of smog towers, it is essential to conduct a holistic study with different technologies before the expansion of these towers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduction of Pollution at the Source: <\/strong>There is a need to reduce air pollution at the source and not just work on the remedial measures.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Focus on the adoption of electrical vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strict measures to ban stubble burning in neighboring states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrated Approach: <\/strong>Delhi is not alone in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/indo-gangetic-plains\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/indo-gangetic-plains\/\"><strong>Indo-Gangetic plain<\/strong><\/a>. Action must be taken to address the pollution issue from Punjab to Bihar.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other Measures:&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Controlling construction waste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implementing regulations on thermal power plants, and focussing on Renewable energy to phase out coal-based thermal power plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lowering industrial emissions directly from the source.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>India must adopt a \u201cgreen vision\u201d as part of its development agenda. The time has come to add \u201cswachh paani\u201d and \u201cswachh hawa\u201d to the list of basic requirements &#8211; \u201croti-kapada-makaan&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong>Hindustan Times<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Further Reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/air-pollution\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/air-pollution\/\"><strong>Air Pollution: Causes, Consequences, Control Measures &amp; More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smog Towers, as the name signifies, are pollution-reducing or air-purifying structures. Large fans take polluted air inside them, pass it through a series of filters, and release clean air.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3775,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-3766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment-and-ecology","tag-gs-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3766"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16793,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3766\/revisions\/16793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}