Dry mist fountains to be installed to combat air pollution in Pune
Pune: Dry Mist Fountains Face Backlash By Citizens, 10 More To Come Up Soon
By: Pune Pulse
November 9, 2023
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is closely monitoring the air quality in the city due to concerns over air pollution. Despite heavy traffic flow at 20 major junctions, the air quality has not reached a dangerous level.
Dry mist fountains will be installed at these junctions, including Sancheti junction, J M road junction, Yerawada junction, Alka chowk junction, Shaniwar Wada junction, and Swargate junction.
Efforts are being made by the PMC to address the issue of air pollution in the city, which is primarily caused by vehicles on the roads, construction activities, and waste burning. The situation is not yet critical, but the civic body is taking proactive measures to prevent it from escalating.
As part of these efforts, dry mist fountains are being installed at 20 major junctions to help settle airborne particles. Additionally, the civic body is promoting the use of eco-friendly vehicles and has introduced electric and CNG buses in the public transport system. Furthermore, the administration has begun procuring electric cars for its officials to use during working hours.
The PMC has introduced a financial aid program for electric rickshaw operators in the city this year, following its previous initiative of funding the conversion of petrol-run auto rickshaws to CNG-run ones. The organization is optimistic that the commencement of the Pune Metro rail service and electric vehicle-based feeder service will discourage the use of private vehicles and contribute to the reduction of air pollution.
In the past, the PMC had experimented with installing fountains at junctions on main roads during G20 summit meetings to combat air pollution and heat in the city. The fountains were installed on a trial basis using central funds and proved to be effective in alleviating the situation during summer.
The civic solid waste department has also begun penalizing citizens who burn garbage, while contractors and real estate developers have been instructed to minimize air pollution caused by construction activities by covering the construction site with jute cloth.
