These devices, designed to spray fine water mist into the air to settle dust particles, are now required for buildings with a built-up area of over 3,000 square metres and at least six storeys tall.
The directive, issued by the Department of Environment and Forest, is part of a broader pollution control strategy in Delhi, where air quality frequently plunges to hazardous levels—especially during winter.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said building owners must comply within six months, with authorities tasked with identifying non-compliance.
What are anti-smog guns?
Anti-smog guns are mechanical devices that release fine mist using high-pressure water nozzles. The mist binds with airborne particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), causing it to settle and reduce localised pollution. These guns are typically mounted on rooftops or elevated parapets and have a throw range of 75–100 metres.
They must use treated water and function intermittently during peak pollution hours—early mornings, evenings, and late nights. Each unit is limited to 1,200 litres of water per hour, capped at 10,000 litres daily over an eight-hour operation.The equipment should also include air quality monitoring systems and operate with minimal noise levels.
Why has Delhi mandated them?
The decision follows alarming air quality data from 2024, when Delhi recorded an annual average PM10 level of 225 µg/m³ and PM2.5 level of 110 µg/m³—both far above the national permissible limits. From October 2024 to January 2025, Delhi experienced:
- 14 days of ‘severe’ air quality
- 72 days of ‘very poor’ air quality
- 33 days of ‘poor’ air quality
Previously, the city had deployed anti-smog guns on a limited basis—98 units in 2023, and 156 in 2024. With this new mandate, the government aims to scale up the effort citywide.
Sirsa stated, “This year, we want the people of Delhi to feel the difference… the government is committed to working on every front to combat pollution.”
Building-specific requirements
The number of anti-smog guns is scaled according to the building’s size:
- 3,000–10,000 sq m: Minimum 3 guns
- 10,001–15,000 sq m: Minimum 4 guns
- 15,001–20,000 sq m: Minimum 5 guns
- 20,001–25,000 sq m: Minimum 6 guns
- Beyond 25,000 sq m: 1 additional gun for every 5,000 sq m
- All devices must be fixed (not mobile) and installed on parapet walls.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will monitor effectiveness through nearby air quality monitoring stations and assess compliance through quarterly reports submitted by urban local bodies. Residential buildings, including societies and complexes, are exempt from this mandate.
The move is seen as a crucial step in controlling dust and particulate pollution, one of the key contributors to Delhi’s chronic air quality crisis.
(With inputs from PTI)
