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Delhi turns to untested smog towers to combat pollution
But environment experts say sources of pollution must be dealt with first
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A smog tower in South Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market began operating last week, even though its efficacy has yet to be proven.
ST PHOTO: NIRMALA GANAPATHY
Nirmala Ganapathy India Bureau Chief In New Delhi, Nirmala Ganapathy
At busy Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi, traffic jams are common in the narrow alleys that cut through the popular market, contributing to the smog in a city with the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted in the world.
Worried about their health, traders decided to take matters into their own hands. "Pollution has been a huge concern for us for a long time. We were waiting for the government to take action," said Mr Ashwani Marwah, general secretary of the Traders' Association of Lajpat Nagar. "But then we thought, why wait for the government. So we decided to put up a smog tower."
