New Delhi: Creating a buffer of trees and shrubs around residential areas and along highways could mitigate dust pollution quite effectively, DU professor emeritus and ecologist C R Babu has recommended to the Delhi government. The government had organised an inter-departmental meet chaired by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to come up with solutions to the capital's problem of air pollution. Sisodia called for recommendations so that emergency measures can be put in place before winter when air pollution levels go up massively.
Babu, who recently submitted his report to the environment secretary, Kulanand Joshi, listed out the main reasons for dust pollution in Delhi-construction of houses, expansion or renovation of old houses, building of roads, flyovers and bridges, dumping of soil by Delhi Metro, presence of sandy areas without grass cover, dust blown by vehicles, and sand and construction waste lying around.
"There are several measures the Delhi government can take that are easy to implement. They do not need major technology or investment. For instance, why can't we use treated water, say from Najafgarh drain, and settle the dust with sprinklers?" Babu said.
The report recommends that loading and unloading of cement bags and mixing of cement with sand or gravel should be carried out in closed sheds covered with plastic sheets. Patches with no grass cover may be identified with satellite imagery and covered immediately. Roads that are not black-topped should also be tarred.
On highways, Babu recommends a thick green belt, at least 5-10m wide and having a three-tier vegetation, and a green belt, 10-50m wide, should be developed around residential areas. Open areas interspersed with houses can also be developed into arboreta-places where a variety of trees and shrubs are planted for educational or scientific purposes.
To address pollution from vehicles on roads, a sprinkler connected to STPs should be developed for spraying water during peak-hour traffic. "In fact, sprinkled water decreases dryness of air near ground level, and it can be recycled. Vehicular emissions like PM2.5 (fine, respirable particles) can also be brought down with a sprinkler system," Babu added. The environment department officials said they received the suggestions.
