Capital’s anti-pollution drive gets boost with new cleaning machines
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday reviewed the operation of newly procured high-end machines aimed at tackling Delhi’s persistent air pollution problem.
At a demonstration held at the Delhi Secretariat, the CM was accompanied by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and senior officials from the Environment Department.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister closely observed the functioning of various machines designed for street cleaning, dust control and pollution reduction. She emphasised that air pollution, largely caused by dust and dirt accumulating along roads, continues to deteriorate Delhi’s air quality and severely impact public health.
“To combat this challenge, the Delhi Government has made special provisions in this year’s Budget for the deployment of advanced cleaning technology. Today’s demonstration marks a significant step towards that goal,” she said, adding that the machines would eventually be deployed across all Assembly constituencies.
The machines demonstrated included a water sprinkler integrated with an anti-smog gun that features a 17,000-litre water tank and 50-micron nozzles capable of reducing PM2.5 and PM10 levels. Also displayed were electric and CNG-based mechanical road sweeping machines with a sweeping width of 3.5 metres. These are capable of cleaning up to 45 km of roads per shift and are effective in removing particulate matter, stones and debris. A battery-powered litter picker machine and a fully electric water jetting machine with GPS tracking were also part of the demonstration.
The CM said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi has accelerated its anti-pollution efforts. “The Cabinet has approved a comprehensive cleanliness and dust control plan. A total of 460 water sprinklers with anti-smog guns, 70 mechanical sweeping machines, 70 litter pickers, water tankers and dust dump vehicles will be rolled out,” she said.
The entire fleet will be equipped with GPS, CCTV, AQI monitors, mobile apps and IoT sensors for real-time monitoring. Each machine’s operation will be tracked from a central control room to ensure efficiency and transparency.
The CM added that over 1,000 water sprinklers would operate daily across the city — except during the monsoon —contributing significantly to cleaner air. She urged citizens to support the initiative by not littering, complying with construction norms and helping make Delhi clean and pollution-free.
Sirsa said the project marked a “modern and significant” step in the Capital’s fight against pollution. “These machines will help control dust and debris on roads in a much more impactful manner. Regular sweeping and sprinkling will now be carried out efficiently, and public participation is essential to its success,” he added, calling on residents to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and contribute to a breathable and healthy Delhi.
Delhi