Govt’s innovation challenge for air pollution control devices on public transport

New Delhi: Delhi govt is set to launch an open challenge for innovators to design devices that reduce air pollution from atop moving buses and trucks, environment minister Manjinder Sirsa said on Thursday.
He said govt plans to transform transportation from being part of the pollution problem to part of the solution by having pollution-curbing devices atop vehicles. Govt will soon introduce a scheme inviting people and startups to submit ideas for devices that can be mounted on the rooftops of public buses and truck-mounted vehicles to extract pollutants from the air. "Indians are, by their very nature, innovative," Sirsa said. "However, their innovation is often subdued by red tape," he said. A scientific panel will assess the ideas on efficacy, cost-effectiveness and power efficiency.

"Many people approach us to show their designs. But there does not exist any method to evaluate the efficacy of the designs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown us the way. Under his guidance and the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta, we are committed to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation and curbing pollution," Sirsa said. tnn