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Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Nehru Park set to host 150 air purifiers in anti-pollution plan
The Delhi government will install 150 outdoor air purifiers at Nehru Park in a pilot project aimed at creating the city's first 'clean air zone,' environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, outlining a plan that experts called unviable and impractical. An air purifier already installed at the Jangpura fuel station. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) Sirsa said the devices, upto nine-feet-tall PM 2.5 particulate matter filters, will be spread across the 85-acre park and maintain 'good' air quality even during peak pollution periods. 'This initiative is part of the government's efforts to improve air quality in the city. It will be a first-of-its-kind pilot project in the country to improve air quality at a public park,' Sirsa told HT. The announcement comes as Delhi has grappled for years with hazardous air pollution levels that peak in the transition to winter. It follows the closure of two expensive smog towers that authorities deemed ineffective, after the then Aam Aadmi Party government touted them as first-of-its-kind solutions to the city's bad air crisis. In 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee called the Connaught Place smog tower experiment ineffective in improving outdoor air quality. The new project will be carried out through a corporate social responsibility partnership with private firm Umeandus, which has tested the technology at four locations including Anand Vihar, a Jangpura petrol pump, New Moti Bagh and outside the Taj Ambassador hotel. Each purifier will cover approximately 600 square metres and requires approval from the New Delhi Municipal Council before installation can begin, Sirsa said. The devices are easy to install and occupy minimal space, according to the minister. Officials said each machine costs around ₹ 5 lakh and the project will be funded through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Experts questioned the viability of outdoor air purification technology, pointing to the failure of previous initiatives. 'The best example is our two Delhi smog towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place. As of now, we have not seen any evidence to suggest how air purifiers outside can clean up air in an effective radius in the city,' said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. 'It is more important to assess the viability of technology that is already installed, before more investments flow in. The same funds could be used to reduce emissions at source,' she added. Air purifiers are typically effective in enclosed places where the same air is recirculated – a device out in the open will need to filter a potentially unending supply of bad air, depending on wind conditions. Nehru Park, known for its lush lawns and trees including gulmohar, neem and ashoka, attracts hundreds of walkers, joggers and yoga enthusiasts daily, particularly during morning and evening hours. The park also hosts regular cultural events. The initiative forms part of the BJP government's broader air quality strategy, including its manifesto promise to halve Delhi's pollution levels by 2030. Earlier this month, the government released a Mitigation Action Plan featuring over 1,000 water sprinklers, 140 anti-smog guns, cloud seeding experiments, audits of pollution under control centres every six months, installation of automatic number plate recognition cameras on Delhi's border points for end-of-life vehicles, and 5,000 additional electric buses. Delhi consistently ranks among the world's most polluted cities, with air quality frequently reaching hazardous levels.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt plans 2 new Miyawaki forests near Najafgarh
The Delhi government is planning to create two new Miyawaki forests in the heart of southwest Delhi by planting 350,000 saplings of native species, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Thursday. The forests will be created in Kharkhari Jatmal (2.44 hectares) and Jainpur (4.54 hectares), both near Najafgarh. The Green Yatra Miyawaki Forest 1 in Mayur Vihar phase 3. (HT Photo) Miyawaki forests, which are 30 times denser than regular forests, were pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s. In these forests, saplings are planted close to each other to form a dense ecosystem. This is believed to ensure a high degree of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration. 'In April the Delhi government announced that it will plant 7 million saplings this year. But there is hardly any new land left where we can carry out large-scale plantations, so Miyawaki forests help in that regard. They allow more saplings to be planted close together, making it a dense urban jungle landscape,' Sirsa said. He added that the saplings for the forests will be planted starting from the monsoon season. Several Miyawaki forests already exist in Delhi. One of the city's first Miyawaki forests was created by the Union environment ministry near the CAG building in ITO. It was inaugurated by the then Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar and had 59 species and more than 12,000 saplings. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has created more than 15 such forests. Three new sites were identified this year at Bhalswa village and Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Last year, a 1.25 acre Miyawaki forest was created in Wazirpur's A block and a 6-acre forest at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Other such forests include two in Mayur Vihar Phase 3, in Dwarka's Shahabad Mohammadpur village and at least two in Dwarka Sector 17. In the two forests to come up near Najafgarh, 20 to 30 native species will be chosen with a distance of 60cm to be kept between trees, Sirsa said. 'In this method, all intermediate and late successional species with many companion species are mixed and densely planted. The dense planting results in dynamic equilibrium and ensures cooperation among different species. The approach also ensures that plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than normal plantations,' the minister said. A government official said the process of creating a Miyawaki first involves determining the soil texture and type, before enriching it. Simultaneously, suitable species for the soil type are identified. 'A plan is then prepared to plant a mix of native species, including shrubs and creepers. Such forests are monitored and maintained for five years,' said the official. But experts said the effectiveness of Miyawaki over conventional forests was still in question. 'There are no long-term studies to suggest Miyawaki forests mitigate more carbon in comparison to normal forests. In the long-run, it evens out. What we see in Miyawaki forests is that the roots are underdeveloped and there is often mono-culture. The more dominant species outcompete and end up dominating the landscape, not allowing the comparatively slower growing species to flourish,' explained ecologist Vijay Dhasmana, who is also the curator at Gurugram's Aravalli Biodiversity Park. 'Plants should not just grow fast, but last longer. In the Aravalli landscape, we don't have dense forests, but also have savannah grasslands and these grasses mitigate CO2 just as much,' Dhasmana added. Miyawaki forests are also costlier to create than regular forests, he added.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi to launch Van Mahotsav 2025 with pledge to plant 7Mn trees
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday announced that the Delhi government will host a month-long exhibition, Van Mahotsav 2025, starting July 3 at Bharat Mandapam. The event will be accompanied by a major plantation drive targeting the planting of over 7 million saplings across the capital. (Representative image) Students plant saplings during 'Van Mahotsav' at Central Ridge in 2022. (ANI) 'We have pledged to plant more than 7 million trees across Delhi, and this Van Mahotsav marks a decisive step toward that promise — not just in numbers, but in nurturing a green conscience,' said Sirsa, adding that the initiative will be central to Delhi's air pollution mitigation plan. The exhibition will feature more than 50 stalls offering medicinal, indigenous, exotic, and ornamental plant varieties. It will also showcase bio-friendly alternatives to plastic, aiming to promote sustainable lifestyle choices. 'Van Mahotsav is not just a plantation drive; it's a people's festival of green resolve, a tribute to nature, and a deeply emotional journey. We are transforming it into a mass movement in Delhi, involving every citizen, leader, and community because combating pollution requires collective climate consciousness,' Sirsa said. Alongside the exhibition, the government will launch a citywide campaign titled 'Ek ped maa ke naam,' under which residents will be encouraged to plant a tree every day in July in honour of their mothers. 'The campaign will include interactive kiosks, tree nameplates bearing mothers' names, creative branding, and public storytelling formats to generate an emotional narrative around green action,' said a government statement. A dedicated social media cell will support digital outreach.
Hans India
21-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Delhi expands anti-pollution drive with automatic misting systems
New Delhi: In a major push to combat air pollution, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa conducted an on-site inspection of the newly installed Automatic Misting System along Lodhi Road. These high-pressure mist sprayers, designed to suppress dust and reduce carbon emissions, are now operational in central Delhi and have also been deployed on DDA-maintained roads in Dwarka, significantly expanding the city's clean-air efforts. 'Delhi is transforming,' Sirsa said during the inspection. 'We're implementing bold, data-driven, and tech-based solutions to fight pollution. The Automatic Misting System is one such innovation, and it can become a model for other states. With sustained efforts, the vision of building a developed Delhi is turning into reality.' The Lodhi Road installation spans 560 meters and includes 15 poles, each equipped with 30 high-pressure brass and stainless-steel nozzles. Operating at 40 BAR pressure, the nozzles emit ultra-fine mist at a rate of 2.8 liters per hour per nozzle. The system is powered by a 10 HP misting pump and is supported by stainless steel pipelines, RO filtration units, PVC water tanks, a control panel, and a dedicated pump room — all completed at a total cost of ₹34 lakh. Building on this, similar installations are already in progress at Africa Avenue (850 meters, 30 poles) and Shanti Path (900 meters, 30 poles). The next phases will cover over 25 major pollution-prone roads, including Bhawandas Road, Tilak Marg, Zakir Hussain Marg, Shahjahan Road, Ashoka Road, Hanuman Mandir, and Khan Market. Sirsa also detailed the government's broader, year-round anti-pollution strategy. As part of this effort, Delhi has deployed 1,000 water sprinklers, 140 anti-smog guns, 200 mechanical road sweepers, 70 electric litter pickers, and 38 water tankers to control dust and particulate emissions. These systems are continuously monitored using GPS technology, camera sensors, and centralized dashboards to ensure efficiency and transparency. Moreover, all commercial high-rise buildings over 3,000 square meters — including malls and hotels — have been directed to install rooftop anti-smog guns. AI-powered tools are also being used to monitor real-time compliance at construction and demolition sites across the city. Sirsa also criticized past governments for what he described as 'decades of neglect and empty promises,' blaming them for allowing pollution levels to spiral. 'Earlier administrations looted public funds and left the city gasping. Today, Delhi is witnessing real change — not scams, but science-backed solutions and infrastructure investment,' he said.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Delhi deploys automatic misting systems to fight air pollution
New Delhi: Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who inspected the Automatic Misting System installed along Lodhi Road on Friday, said similar systems are being deployed on DDA-maintained roads in Dwarka and are under execution at Africa Avenue and Shanti Path. The next phases will cover over 25 major roads which are prone to air pollution, including Bhawandas Road, Tilak Marg, Zakir Hussain Marg, Shahjahan Road, Ashoka Road, Hanuman Mandir, and Khan Market. The Lodhi Road project, now completed, spans 560 meters and includes 15 poles, each fitted with 30 high-pressure brass and stainless-steel misting nozzles. These nozzles operate at 40 BAR pressure, delivering ultra-fine mist at a rate of 2.8 LPH per nozzle. Supported by a 10 HP misting pump, the system includes SS pipelines, RO units, PVC tanks, a control panel, and a dedicated pump room—all completed at a total cost of Rs 34 lakh. In addition to Lodhi Road and Dwarka, similar installations are under execution at Africa Avenue (850 meters, 30 poles) and Shanti Path (900 meters, 30 poles). "We are deploying bold, data-driven, and technology-backed solutions to fight air pollution. The Automatic Misting System is one such innovation that will become a benchmark for other states," said Sirsa.
