In 2020, a mega smog tower worth 23 crore rupees was installed to reduce pollution in Delhi. However, the employees currently working on the smog tower have put a lock on it. The tower, located near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, had ceased operations in April 2023 and was restarted following a Supreme Court order in November 2023. However, on January 6, 2024, the employees once again locked it.
Vibgyor Consulting was the firm responsible for operating the tower. According to staff members, they have not received their salaries for the past month, and there is no written assurance of job security from the government. The 24-meter tall smog tower had the capacity to purify 1,000 cubic meters of air per second within a one-kilometer radius. It was equipped with 40 fans and 5,000 air filters to absorb polluted air and release purified air.
Mahipal Bisht, an employee of the tower, mentioned that the tower is under the jurisdiction of DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) and NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation). Our company, Vibgyour Consulting, was operating this tower. However, the tower was shut down in April 2023. After a reprimand from the Supreme Court in November, the DPCC called us to restart the tower, and on November 8, the tower was operational again. However, we were not paid on time, and our December salaries are still pending. Not only that, but our company has not received a permanent job assurance from the Delhi government. Bisht stated that in such a situation, our only option was to shut down the smog tower.
It is reported that a smog tower was experimentally installed in Connaught Place. Another smog tower was opened in Anand Vihar, identified as one of Delhi’s pollution hotspots. Employees mentioned that basic facilities such as drinking water and toilets are not available at this location. The tower’s electrician, Vivek Uniyal, stated that fundamental tools like pliers and screwdrivers are also lacking. Additionally, no safety gear has been provided.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee had suggested shutting down the smog tower after a two-year-long project, revealing that there was only a marginal reduction of about 12-13% in particulate matter (PM) within 100 meters of the smog tower. According to staff members, the smog tower was not in good working condition, and most of the 5000 filters installed in the tower are old and need replacement. Security personnel of the tower, Puneet Nagar, mentioned that despite having families to support, they were initially asked to stay at home, and now there is no response from the DPCC.
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