EDMC to deploy mist sprinklers to curb pollution

NEW DELHI: East Delhi Municipal Corporation will introduce 40 truck-mounted mist-fogging sprinklers to settle the dust during the peak pollution season in areas under its jurisdiction. These sprinklers will be attached to tankers of 9,000-litre capacity and put into service for eight hours a day.
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Detailing the plans, a senior EDMC official said: “These sprinklers will consume less water and work in a bigger area at a time. We will primarily use them at the hotspots identified for high pollution levels.We will run these sprinklers using the truck engine and not engage separate ones. This will not only save cost but also reduce pollution from fuel emission,” the official said.
Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had recently released a list of 13 hotspots where pollution levels were much higher than the city’s average. These hotspots, identified after surveys conducted by various agencies, include Okhla Phase-II, Dwarka, Mayapuri and RK Puram in south Delhi; Anand Vihar (including Mandoli) and Vivek Vihar in east; and Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, Rohini and Jahangirpuri in north Delhi. “Of these 13 places, two — Vivek Vihar and Anand Vihar — are in our jurisdiction. The mist sprinklers will be installed as one of the measures under the Graded Response Action Plan,” the official said.
EDMC commissioner Dilraj Kaur said officials had been directed to conduct periodic day and night patrolling. On Saturday, around 4am, teams conducted raids in industrial areas of Mandoli, Damodar Park, Jhilmil and Friends Colony. “We found many industries involved in drawing copper after melting wires. They were running without licence from us. The violators will be prosecuted. Last week, too, we challaned and sealed 62 such units in other areas,” he said.
North Delhi Municipal Corporation also began water sprinkling on its roads adjoining industrial areas on Monday.