India is set to inaugurate its tallest air purifier in Chandigarh on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This event follows the inauguration of the country’s first ‘smog tower’ which took place earlier in August 2021, in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Details About India’s Tallest Air Purifier
This outdoor air purification tower stands at a length of 24 meters and boasts the capacity to purify the air within a radius of around 1 km. More than just an air purifier, the tower features a quality index system that displays the quality of air it absorbs and the quality after purification. The entire functioning of the tower is based on electricity.
Air purifiers such as this are large-scale structures designed specifically to reduce air pollution particles. Their design and use are particularly significant in cities struggling with consistently poor air quality.
The Air Quality Challenge in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, the city hosting India’s tallest air purifier, has been identified as a non-attainment city according to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) norms. This status indicates that over the past five years, the city has struggled to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). It has consistently shown high levels of harmful PM 10 (particulate matter that is 10 microns or less in diameter), PM 2.5, and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide).
Although the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to “satisfactory” and “moderate” levels during the lockdown period and several months afterward, it fell back to the “poor” category in November 2020. The introduction of the air purification tower is thus seen as a critical intervention in addressing this ongoing air quality challenge.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2019 adopted a resolution recognizing the 7th of September as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The purpose of this day is to highlight the need for clean air for all while enabling broad discussions on other pertinent issues such as climate change, human and planetary health, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Adopted in response to the growing global concern over the health impacts of air pollution, the resolution aims at reducing the number of casualties and illnesses caused by airborne chemicals and pollutants in air, water, and soil by 2030. In line with this vision, the theme for the 2021 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is Healthy Air, Healthy Planet.