Indigenous Air Quality System to Cut Costs by One-Third, Says Krishnan

In a significant development for India's environmental monitoring capabilities, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan unveiled an indigenously developed air quality monitoring (AQM) system on Wednesday. This new system, which is priced at approximately one-third the cost of its imported counterparts, marks a notable achievement in the country's push towards self-reliance in technology.

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The AQM system was developed through a collaborative effort involving the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata, TeXMIN ISM Dhanbad, and industry partner JM Envirolab. This initiative is part of the National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs), aimed at leveraging technology to address environmental challenges.

Currently, industries and cities rely heavily on imported sensors for air quality monitoring. The introduction of an affordable, domestically produced alternative could significantly enhance India's ability to monitor environmental pollutants. The AQM device is capable of tracking a wide range of pollutants including PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10, SO2, NO2, O3, CO, CO2, along with temperature and humidity levels.

Krishnan highlighted the government's plans to promote the widespread adoption of these devices across various ministries and departments. Additionally, the device has been made available on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, ensuring easy access for potential buyers.

In a move to commercialize this innovation, C-DAC Kolkata has transferred the technology to JM Envirolab for a royalty fee of Rs 10,000 per device. JM Envirolab has already secured agreements to deploy around 500 AQM devices in coal mines, showcasing the industry's interest in this new technology.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has played a crucial role in supporting the research and development activities that led to this product's creation. According to MeitY Additional Secretary Bhuvanesh Kumar, the ministry is committed to backing projects from their conceptual stages through to product development to meet the evolving needs of industries.

Enhancing the utility of the AQ-AIMS system is a mobile application named Air-Pravah. This app allows for real-time monitoring of the Air Quality Index (AQI), making it easier for users to access up-to-date information on air quality.

Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) were present at the launch event. They noted that the indigenously developed AQM system would aid in providing various environmental clearances more efficiently.

This development not only represents a step forward in India's environmental monitoring efforts but also underscores the nation's capabilities in developing advanced technologies through collaborative efforts between government bodies, research institutions, and industry partners.