Maharashtra civic body keeps AQI below 100 with air purifiers and dust control drive

KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), under the guidance of Commissioner Abhinav Goel, has taken several steps across the twin cities that have helped keep the Air Quality Index (AQI) below 100—and on many days even below 50—through a mix of pollution-control measures, civic officials said.

As part of these efforts, KDMC has operationalised an outdoor air purification system at the busy Tata Power House junction under the Centre’s National Air Quality Programme (NAQP). In addition, eight air mist fountain systems have been installed at key traffic-heavy junctions to curb dust and improve ambient air quality.

Rohini Lokare, Executive Engineer in KDMC’s environment department, said the outdoor purification units draw in polluted air, filter dust, fine particulate matter and harmful pollutants, and release cleaner air back into the environment. “These systems are equipped with high-efficiency filtration and ventilation mechanisms and operate continuously to improve air quality,” she said.

She added that carbon filters help control harmful gases, while smart monitoring systems enable real-time AQI tracking. KDMC plans to install two more such outdoor purification units in the near future.

Officials said the dry mist fountains use specialised nozzles to create micron-sized droplets that suppress dust without wetting the surroundings. The systems also help reduce ambient temperature and provide a cooling effect in congested urban areas.

To tackle dust on smaller roads, KDMC has deployed 10 “gobbler” machines that absorb fine particles. The civic body has also implemented strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) for construction sites under the guidance of Commissioner Abhinav Goel.

Builders have been directed to maintain dust-free zones extending up to 500 metres for large projects spread over 10,000 square metres, 200 metres for projects up to 6,000 square metres, and 100 metres for projects up to 4,000 square metres. These measures include daily water sprinkling and mandatory photo and video updates shared on monitoring groups.

Lokare said coordinated efforts by multiple civic departments over the past two months have significantly improved air quality, keeping AQI within satisfactory levels and, on many days, in the “good” category across Kalyan-Dombivli.


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