Parliament Question: Implementation of Large-Scale Urban Air Purification Systems

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5059 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 Implementation of Large-Scale Urban Air Purification Systems 5059. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of installing large-scale urban air purification systems in highly polluted cities across the country; (b) whether the Government proposes to install outdoor air purification towers or similar large- scale pollution control mechanisms in metropolitan cities and other critically polluted urban areas and if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of pilot projects, if any, undertaken for large-scale air purification including funds allocated, implementing agencies and present status, city-wise; and (d) whether the Government has evaluated the impact of such air purification systems on reduction of PM-2.5 and PM10 levels in urban areas and if so, the outcomes thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d): To address air pollution in the country, the Government of India has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to improve air quality in 130 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by engaging all stakeholders. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans prepared by 130 cities under NCAP are implemented to reduce air pollution sources like soil & road dust, vehicular emissions, construction & demolition activities, waste burning and industrial pollution, etc. A smog tower was installed at Anand Vihar, Delhi by the Central Government as a pilot project. Another pilot project of installing smog tower was also implemented by Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) at Connaught Place. The smog tower at Anand Vihar was constructed with a capital cost of Rs. 13.59 crore, and smog tower at Connaught Place was installed with a capital cost of Rs. 22 crore.Performance evaluation studies on the functioning of the smog towers installed at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place were conducted by IIT Bombay in association with IIT Delhi. It has been reported that the smog towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place have shown a reduction of 20% and 13%, respectively, in PM2.5 and PM10 levels within a radius of 400 metres of the smog towers. ***