Patiala civic body deploys smog guns to combat dipping air quality

With the air quality in Patiala slipping into the ‘poor’ category, the Municipal Corporation took urgent measures today by deploying smog guns to reduce dust pollution in the densely populated areas of the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) for particulate matter (PM) 2.5 stood at 212, causing concerns among residents and health authorities alike.

Municipal Commissioner Rajat Oberoi explained that the smog gun would continue to be used throughout the city until the pollution levels decreased. “Our aim is to cover the entire city, focusing on areas with dense population where dust and pollution levels are the highest,” he said.

The smog gun, purchased last year, had developed a technical snag shortly after its initial use. However, the issue was recently resolved, allowing it to be reintroduced for dust control. “Residents have been reporting health issues like bronchial allergies, coughing and sneezing due to the increased dust particles in the air, which spurred us to bring the smog gun back into operation,” said a civic department official, while supervising the operations of the gun.

As pollution remains a major challenge in Patiala, city officials are actively monitoring air quality and are prepared to implement further measures, if necessary.