Air Pollution Control Tower prototype made by BHEL launched in Noida

Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey inaugurated the Air Pollution Control Tower (APCT) prototype made by state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Noida.

Inaugurating the APCT, the Minister said that the air pollution in urban regions particularly National Capital Region, is a serious problem, unfavourably impacting the health and quality of life of citizens. He further said that efforts are being made to reduce the pollution at the source itself.

It comes in the backdrop of Delhi NCR pollution, generated due to crop stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, becoming a yearly political flashpoint between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. As per the government, an acre of land generates about two tonnes of stubble.

The APCT runs by removing polluted air via its base and capturing the particulate matter in filters set up in the tower. The obtained particulate matter gets collected in the hopper at the bottom of the APCT for periodic removal for disposal.

The crop stubble burning season has begun this year again after the national capital observed clear skies during lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Capital Region is troubled with the issue of air pollution particularly in winter months, with the Air Quality Index declining to hazardous levels, which is a matter of severe concern for the health of the local population.

Thick smog, now a yearly phenomenon in northern India due to the burning of husk by farmers in Haryana and Punjab, combined with pollution has exposed the area to the risk of power blackouts annually during this season.

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