Mumbai Air Pollution: Anti-smog guns may have just localised effect, say experts
MUMBAI: While the BMC is going ahead with its plan to procure anti-smog gun units, environmental experts said the move may not fetch the desired results in controlling all-round air pollution in the city and the effect would be localised. Track the pollution level in your city "The anti-smog gun is a dust-control measure. However, air pollution is a very complex issue and requires a detailed strategy, including looking at other sources of pollution such as construction sites, vehicles and burning of waste, among others. Use of anti-smog guns will ensure coarse particles in the air settle down. It will have a localised effect and can be used at locations where a high amount of dust is generated," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Gufran Beig, chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, and founder project director, SAFAR, said before deploying these mobile units, "they should first identify dust-emitting hotspots and then deploy multiple units at these spots to save resources". For a long-lasting solution, strategic measures based on high-resolution emission inventory and air-shed mapping are needed, he said. While welcoming the move, Rakesh Kumar, former director of National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI), said, "Air pollution health outcome should be the key success parameter wherein KEM Hospital EPRC could play a pivotal role." Bhagwan Keshbhat, founder, Waatavaran, said dust will settle on use of anti-smog guns and rise again after a few hours with vehicular movement. - Sanjeev Devasia