Delhi plans Rs 104 crore pollution-control pilot across 40 sites

The Delhi government is inviting private firms and start-ups to test pollution-control technologies at 40 locations across the capital under a Rs 104 crore pilot programme aimed at reducing particulate pollution.

The initiative, being coordinated through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), sets a target of reducing PM10 and PM2.5 levels by 20 per cent at each selected site and maintaining that reduction during the pilot.

The locations cover open or semi-enclosed public spaces measuring approximately one to 1.5 acres each. They include marketplaces, commercial districts, transport hubs, tourist destinations, hospitals and educational institutions, reported The Indian Express.

Commercial areas account for 29 of the 40 shortlisted sites, or 72.5 per cent. Locations identified include Khan Market, Connaught Place and Defence Colony. Transport hubs under consideration include the Inter-State Bus Terminals at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan.

The identified tourist locations include Central Park in Connaught Place, the India Gate Children’s Park area and the Lotus Temple corridor.

The project will allow participating companies to demonstrate technologies at selected sites. The government has kept the programme technology-agnostic, meaning firms can propose different solutions provided they meet the stated performance and safety requirements.

Possible interventions include outdoor air purifiers, mist-based scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators.

Equipment must be certified by a government laboratory, achieve the required reduction in particulate matter and avoid creating secondary environmental hazards, including ozone emissions or excessive noise.

Once a site is handed over, participating firms will have four weeks to install and commission their equipment. The initial pilot period is planned to last one full year.

An independent committee will monitor the results and assess whether the technologies deliver the required reduction.

The site-selection process places a strong emphasis on commercial and public areas where targeted interventions can be introduced and their effects measured.

The 20 per cent reduction is a project target, not an achieved result. Its effectiveness will depend on the technology deployed, maintenance, local conditions and the monitoring of pollution before and after installation.