The Delhi Development Authority has expanded its winter air-pollution response with 270 misting poles in Dwarka, mechanised road-sweeping machines in Narela and targeted dust-control measures across its areas, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi. The authority also said it had planted more than 21.24 lakh saplings during the current financial year and developed grass over 143 acres of dusty land in parks.
The measures are being implemented in DDA areas under the supervision of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, according to the report. They include water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, mechanical cleaning and special teams tasked with acting against open waste burning, debris dumping and the uncovered storage of construction material.
The misting network in Dwarka now extends for 11.8 kilometres. A recently operational three-kilometre section in Sector 8 includes 66 poles. Each pole has 30 nozzles, and the system is scheduled to operate between 7 am and 11 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm. During those windows, the poles run for 10 to 15 minutes every hour.
In Narela, two mechanised road-sweeping machines have been deployed to clean roads measuring 20 metres in width. Seven sprinklers have also been positioned to suppress dust. In Rohini, mechanical sweeping is being carried out on alternate days along approximately 166 kilometres of roads wider than 18 metres. The cleaning programme also covers footpaths, cycle tracks and road edges.
The DDA said district- and subdivision-level teams had been formed to prevent open waste burning and the dumping of construction debris. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that construction materials are covered with green netting, remove dust from roads and footpaths, and respond to pollution-related complaints.
Additional equipment has been deployed in several zones. A permanent anti-smog gun is operating at Vikas Minar in the northern area, while four sprinklers have been placed in the Dhirpur area. The southern area has seven sprinklers, three anti-smog guns and seven special teams monitoring activities that may contribute to pollution.
The authority said its plantation work covered parks, green areas and roadside land, while grass and shrubs had been added along approximately eight kilometres of roads. It also reported washing trees and plants in parks and sprinkling water on pedestrian paths. The DDA said mechanical cleaning, water spraying and enforcement against polluting activities would continue during winter.
