Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1209, answered on 08.12.2025, addresses the effectiveness of smog towers. Shri Arun Govil asked the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change about Meerut's pollution levels, the installation of smog towers in Delhi, their effectiveness in curbing pollution by 75%, and the government's plans to equip Meerut and Hapur with smog towers. The Minister of State, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, responded that Meerut is covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and funded by the XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus City Challenge Fund. Meerut recorded 203 "good" days (AQI≤200) and 159 "bad" days (AQI>200) in 2022, which improved to 285 "good" days and 81 "bad" days in 2024. NCAP efforts in Meerut have shown a 16.8% reduction in annual average PM10 concentrations in FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2017-18. A smog tower installed in Anand Vihar, Delhi, has shown up to a 20% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 levels at a distance of 200-400 meters.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A program mentioned as covering Meerut city and used for implementation of clean air action plans to reduce pollution.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry answering the questions in the Lok Sabha.
Delhi: Location of installed smog towers and point of reference for their effectiveness.
Meerut: City mentioned in the question as being among the most polluted and the location to potentially be equipped with smog towers.
XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus City Challenge Fund: Fund used to finance the air quality performance linked grant in Meerut
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1209
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Effectiveness of Smog Towers
1209. SHRI ARUN GOVIL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether Meerut figures among the most polluted cities in NCR;
(b) if so, whether Smog Towers have been installed to contain Air Pollution in Delhi with an
estimated potential of curbing the degree and extent of pollution even by 75 percent;
(c) the extent to which Smog Towers have been observed to be effective enough in Delhi; and
(d) the time by which the Government proposes to equip Meerut and Hapur in Meerut Lok Sabha
Constituency with Smog Towers in case of its having been found effective in Delhi ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): Meerut city is covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and
funded under XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus City Challenge Fund as an air quality
performance linked grant.
Meerut city recorded 203 ‘good’ days (AQI≤200) and 159 ‘bad’ days (AQI>200) in 2022, whereas
in 2024, it recorded 285 ‘good’ days and 81 ‘bad’ days, indicating a significant increase in ‘good’
air quality days in 2024 as compared to 2022. Further, the efforts made under the National Clean
Air Programme (NCAP) through implementation of clean air action plans by Meerut city have
shown reduction of 16.8% in annual average PM10 concentrations in FY 2024-25 as compared to
FY 2017-18.
A smog tower was installed in Anand Vihar, Delhi and it has shown the reduction of up to 20%
for PM2.5 and PM10 levels for distance 200-400 m.
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