TimesView It’s a good move, but for desired results, LMC will have to ensure that these sweeping trucks and water sprinkling machines are used efficiently. Past experiences show that many measures taken by the civic body aren’t effective for long. For example, LMC had installed GPS devices in trucks used for garbage collection and fogging. However, the devices were out of order within months due to lack of servicing.

LUCKNOW: Residents may soon breathe easy as the city will be equipped with two water cannon trucks and two mechanized sweeper trucks to improve air quality by reducing micro dust particles in the atmosphere. According to officials, Lucknow Municipal Corporation has received Rs 5 crore from the Centre under ‘National Clean Air Programme’.The civic body has contacted a Bengaluru-based private company for the purchase of water cannon trucks, while the contract for purchase of two mechanized sweeper machines worth Rs 3.34 crore has already been signed with an Indore-based private firm.Track the pollution level in your cityAccording to a study conducted by UP Pollution Control Board in 2018, dust particles constitute about 72% of particulate matter in the city. Dust rising from broken roads and construction sites contribute the most to air pollution. Dust settled on leaves reduces the capacity of trees to release oxygen, thus preventing natural cleansing of air. In 2018, Lucknow received only 50 days of good/satisfactory air while in 2019, good/satisfactory air was available for around 100 days.Water cannon trucks will be used for sprinkling water in the air and on trees laden with dust. A machine is connected to a water tank and mounted on a flatbed truck which sprays water. Water is broken up into smaller droplets up to 150ft in the air. Vacuum cleaners installed in mechanized sweeper trucks remove dust particles from roads. These trucks also have water sprinklers which do not allow remaining dust particles to settle on roads.Chief engineer, rubbish removal department (LMC), RN Tripathi said: “Action plan under clean air programme has been prepared and machinery is being purchased.”