Thane: The ambitious initiative of the Thane municipal corporation to mitigate air pollution in the city using mist fountains seems to have run into rough weather due to its apparent unscientific installation and inadequate infrastructure provided by the administration.The faulty installation of the fountains recently attracted the attention of IIT-Bombay experts following a review and have now recommended corrective action.It may be recalled the corporation had installed a pair of mist fountains at two locations- Majiwada and Vitawa junction early this year at a cost of Rs 97 lakh which included set up and its maintenance for five years.However, a visit to the spots revealed the initiative was not operating to its desired optimum thanks to its wrong positioning and inadequate water supply to the fountains which left it inoperative after 5pm incidentally when the pollution levels are known to peak. Further, the Majiwada fountains were located underneath an infrastructure project and aimed spew mist on the concrete pillars.The systems are never operational in the evening and even if they were, it hasnt really made any notable improvement in the air quality here, said a local resident.The agency operating the system admitted the fountains worked for a limited period only and blamed inadequate water supply. They claimed they were unaware of the wrong positioning and said they were installed at spots allotted by the administration.When contacted, Manisha Pradhan, chief at the pollution control department at the Thane municipal corporation, admitted the short comings and said they would comply by the IIT expert observations soon. The IIT-B experts observed that the Vitawa fountain has helped reduce pollution levels by around 30%. The teams spotted faults in the directions where the fountain nozzles were aimed at the Majiwada location and have suggested corrections, she said.It may be noted the lake city has recorded an average of 55-165 AQI last month which makes such initiatives vital for a city like Thane. We also published the following articles recentlyOnscreen, in that fountain, Matthew Perry is there for us, stillMatthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, has died at the age of 54. Perry had struggled with addiction throughout his career, but his portrayal of Chandler on the hit sitcom was beloved by audiences. Despite his talent, Perrys post-Friends projects were largely forgettable, and he never achieved the same level of success. Friends continues to be a popular show, and Perrys performance as Chandler will be remembered by fans.Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to install air purification systems to curb pollution; experts want permanent solutionThe Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Pune has started installing air bin purifiers and mist fountains at various locations to tackle air pollution. The initiative, under the National Clean Air Programme, aims to install 12 dry mist fountains and nine air bin purifiers at 17 identified places. However, experts have criticized the move, stating that it is only a temporary solution and that the focus should be on finding a permanent solution by addressing the source of pollution. An NGO, Parisar, had previously installed lung billboards in the area to measure air pollution levels.Mumbai Air Pollution: Anti-smog guns may have just localised effect, say expertsEnvironmental experts have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of anti-smog guns in controlling air pollution in Mumbai. While the guns can help settle coarse particles in the air, they may not address the complex issue of air pollution caused by various sources such as construction sites, vehicles, and waste burning. Experts suggest that a detailed strategy, including identifying dust-emitting hotspots and implementing high-resolution emission inventory and air-shed mapping, is needed for a long-lasting solution. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of considering air pollutions health outcomes.

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