Delhi mandates anti-smog guns for all high-rise commercial and institutional buildings

The Delhi government has made it mandatory for all high-rise commercial, institutional, and hospitality buildings to install anti-smog guns in a major move to combat rising air pollution in the city. The order applies to buildings above ground plus five storeys and those with a built-up area exceeding 3,000 square metres.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the number of anti-smog guns required will depend on the building’s size. For instance, buildings under 10,000 square metres must install at least three guns. The number increases with every 5,000 square metre increment beyond 25,000 square metres. Urban local bodies have been asked to identify all such buildings and ensure implementation within six months.

The guns must be fixed directly onto parapet walls and release water mist in the 5 to 20-micron range. They must operate during peak pollution hours—early mornings, evenings, and nights—and should use treated water only. Each unit must not consume more than 10,000 litres of water daily. Monitoring systems must be integrated, and compliance reports are to be submitted quarterly to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

The initiative follows a grim winter where Delhi faced 119 days of “poor” to “severe” air quality. While 156 guns were deployed across the city in 2024, this move aims to scale up the use of dust-suppression systems significantly. Residential buildings remain exempt from the directive.