New Delhi: Concerns have been raised over the maintenance and working hours of anti-smog guns installed by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after the leader of the opposition, AAP’s Ankush Narang, found the machine installed on the terrace of MCD’s headquarters, Civic Centre, non-functional during a visit Thursday evening.The civic body, however, maintained that the machine worked for eight hours and Narang visited the terrace after the timings got over.In a video shared by Narang Friday, he was seen visiting the terrace on the 28th floor at 5.41pm Thursday, where the anti-smog gun was lying idle. He claimed that the machine had not been functioning for several days and questioned MCD’s monitoring of pollution-control equipment at a time when measures to combat deteriorating air quality were being stepped up.“While BJP-led MCD makes grand claims about tackling pollution, the anti-smog gun installed within its own building is not even operational. How long will the people of Delhi continue to be fed empty and false promises… Being the tallest building in the area, its sufficient operation is mandatory,” Narang said.Mayor Pravesh Wahi said the machine was fully operational. “I spoke to an official and was informed that the machine operates between 9am to 5pm, which is ideally the timing when traffic is massive on the road and all offices in the surroundings operate.”Officials also maintained that no machine could operate beyond eight hours and there was no plan to install another machine as of now.In the MCD areas, there are 235 anti-smog guns, including 119 at under-construction buildings and 116 at highrises. Of them, 15 are installed in MCD buildings.Officials maintained that all machines were functioning as per an eight-hour operational cycle and were monitored weekly for maintenance and functioning. “All our anti-smog guns are functioning properly and weekly monitoring is also carried out to ensure their maintenance and operation. It is possible that the machine was temporarily switched off when the councillor visited,” an official said.
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