“The device only consumes half a unit of electricity to run for 10 hours and has a maintenance cost of Rs 1,500 per month.

According to Dr Rakesh Kumar, director at NEERI, each device has been built at a cost of Rs 60,000. “The larger device is being planned and may cost of about Rs 2 lakhs.

WAYU makes use of filters to remove particulate matter, alongside activated carbon and UV lamps to remove gases like carbon monoxide and VOCs. The device has been built to take in air, purify it and release cleaner air back into the surroundings.

Dr Rakesh Kumar, director of NEERI, explained that the device works on two simple principles – wind generation for dilution of air pollutants and removal of active pollutants. “The device uses low speed wind generators and filters along with a thermal oxidizer for removal of toxic content. The air is passed through the filters where the particulates are removed. The air is heated inside the specially designed section of the device with appropriate surface and retention time, within the thermal oxidizers where the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) get converted to carbon dioxide,” said Dr Kumar.