In an effort to combat pollution the capital city has finally introduced its first smog tower. Situated in Lajpat Nagar Central market, it is 20 feet tall and has been erected on a 4 feet high pedestal on a covered drain.

According to media reports, the tower is fitted with exhaust fans to suck in polluted air and can remove up to 80% of the particulate matter, namely PM 2.5 and PM10, which wreak havoc in Delhi each year. The smog tower has been installed after the Supreme Court&rsquos directive to find effective ways to combat the city&rsquos problem which leaves many with respiratory problems.

The cost of setting up the facility was Rs 7 lakh and the running cost is about Rs 30,000, according to a news report. The tower runs on electricity and may treat 250,000 to 600,000 cubic metres of air per day, the report added. The cylindrical setup will purify the air within a vicinity of 750 metres.

A pilot project to test the effectiveness has also being undertaken at IIT Delhi in collaboration with IIT Bombay and University of Minnesota.