Anti Smog Gun

Anti Smog Gun in Delhi

Anti Smog Gun is an atomised water spraying device that can reduce air pollution in the atmosphere.

Anti Smog Gun Uses:

Construction sites: Previously, only large construction sites were required to use anti-smog gun, but now they have been mandated at smaller construction sites.

Road: Vehicle-mounted smog guns have been used to spray fine mist in an effort to get suspended dust settle.

Buildings: Smog guns are being placed atop buildings of around 7-10 storeys.

Working: The idea behind working of anti-smog guns is that water molecules sprayed into the atmosphere bind dust particles, forcing them to settle down on the ground.

Anti Smog Gun Uses

• Particulate dust settling: In winters, there is not enough humidity to settle dust particles. The anti-smog guns allow particulate matter to settle. However, it is not a permanent solution.
  • It can be used locally when there is fire or construction and demolition dust. It cannot be effective for whole city.
• Smaller area: Anti Smog Guns can target only a small area and not the whole sky above the city. For the whole city, events like rain can reduce smog.
  • Countries like China have used artificial rains to control haze but it can only be deployed at a larger scale and not concentrated areas.
• Use at source: Instead of firing the anti-smog guns at random sites, there are suggestions to use them at source sites such as traffic junctions and construction sites.
  • However, there is no conclusive evidence to show its success due to lack of research.
• Moving suspended particles: Particles suspended in the air due to crop residue burning originate over surrounding areas and are brought to the city by winds. Reducing these particles using anti-smog guns is challenging.

Anti Smog Gun: Pollution in Delhi

Reasons for Pollution During Winters:

• Localized emissions: Majority of pollution in Delhi is caused due to industrial exhaust, burning of municipal waste, vehicular emission and construction waste. These add upto 80% of pollution source in the city and neighbouring areas.
• Inland winds: Winds flowing from coasts to the inland bring dust particles that hit the Himalayas and get trapped. This accumulates over northern plains, including Delhi.
• Low humidity: During winter, the region witnesses low levels of humidity. In absence of humidity, particulate matter keeps floating in the atmosphere without settling down.
• Trapping of cold air: Cooler air descends towards the ground during winter and warm air rises above it, acting as a lid. The cold air traps dust and associated particles to form smog.

Alternative ways to Control Pollution:

• Clean mobility: Clean mobility solutions such as electric vehicles and CNGs have to be promoted as majority of pollutants are vehicular emissions.
• Solutions to industrial emissions: Industrial emissions must be reduced by mandating scrubbers, absorbers and precipitators.
• Alternatives to stubble burning: Farmers have to be incentivized to give up stubble burning. Machines such as happy seeders can reduce instances of burning in agrarian regions.

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