KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has managed to keep the Air Quality Index (AQI) below 100 — and on several days even below 50 — through a series of pollution-control initiatives implemented across the twin cities, civic officials said.
The measures, undertaken under the guidance of KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel, include outdoor air purification systems, air mist fountains and stricter dust-control regulations at construction sites.
As part of the initiative, KDMC has installed and 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 set up at major traffic-heavy junctions to help control dust and improve ambient air quality.
According to Rohini Lokare, Executive Engineer in KDMC’s environment department, the outdoor purification systems work by drawing in polluted air, filtering out dust, fine particulate matter and harmful pollutants, and then releasing 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.
Lokare added that the systems use carbon filters to reduce harmful gases, while smart monitoring technology enables real-time AQI tracking. KDMC is also planning to install two additional outdoor purification units in the near future.
Officials said the dry mist fountain systems use specialised nozzles to generate micron-sized droplets that suppress airborne dust without making surrounding areas wet. The systems also help lower ambient temperatures and create a cooling effect in congested urban zones.
To address dust pollution on smaller roads, KDMC has deployed 10 “gobbler” machines designed to absorb fine dust particles.
The civic body has also enforced strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) for construction sites. Under the guidelines, builders must maintain dust-free zones extending up to 500 metres for projects larger than 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.
The measures include mandatory daily water sprinkling and the submission of photo and video updates for monitoring purposes.
Lokare said coordinated efforts by multiple civic departments over the past two months have significantly improved air quality across Kalyan-Dombivli, with AQI levels remaining within the satisfactory range and frequently entering the “good” category.
