In a groundbreaking initiative to combat urban air pollution, the Delhi government has become the first in the nation to enforce the year-round installation and use of anti-smog guns on tall commercial, institutional, and hospitality buildings. This directive, issued by the Department of Environment of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), is backed by Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who spearheaded the initiative, stressed its importance by stating, “This is about safeguarding the air our children breathe.”

The rule is applicable to all commercial establishments, shopping malls, and hotels with a built-up area exceeding 3,000 square metres, as well as institutional or office buildings with more than five stories. Residential buildings are excluded from this mandate.

The directive offers a six-month grace period for eligible buildings to complete the installation. The equipment must be operational year-round, excluding the monsoon season from June 15 to October 1. The anti-smog guns are required to adhere to standards including a spray reach of 75 to 100 metres and droplet sizes between 5 and 20 microns to efficiently reduce PM2.5 and PM10 particulate levels. Water usage is limited to 1,200 litres per hour or a maximum of 10,000 litres during an eight-hour operational day. Usage should align with designated time slots during peak pollution hours: 6:30–9:30 am, 5:30–8:30 pm, and 1:30–4:30 am, in short bursts to enhance efficiency and minimise resource consumption.

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“What we’ve done today is historic. This is the first time Delhi has taken a legally binding step to address a major yet overlooked pollution source. This is real accountability,” said Minister Sirsa, adding, “We’re making pollution control an integral part of urban infrastructure—not just a policy on paper.”

Execution will be monitored by several civic and infrastructure bodies including the MCDs, DDA, CPWD, NBCC, and PWD, with quarterly updates submitted to the Department of Environment. “This is mandatory—install the smog guns, operate them as required, or face regulatory action. We’re done accepting excuses,” Sirsa affirmed.