Will a smog tower help tackle air pollution in one of the world’s most polluted cities?
In 2016, Patna was declared as the sixth most polluted city in the world according to a report by the WHO. Even as there is no robust data supporting the efficacy of smog towers, the Bihar government is considering introducing one in Patna to tackle air pollution. In 2019, several civil society organizations in collaboration with the Bihar government released a comprehensive “Clean Air Action Plan” for Patna. The idea of a smog tower was not even mentioned in the plan. In November 2019, the Union environment secretary itself raised doubts over the efficiency of smog towers