New Delhi, Jan. 8 -- Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday wrote to the Principal Secretary of Environment, directing the latter to release the outstanding payments of the personnel working at the Smog Tower located in Delhi's Connaught Place.

The smog tower, inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2021, has stopped working after the personnel responsible for its operations 'locked it' due to non-payment of their salary for December 2023 and no written 'job guarantee' from the Delhi government.

Rai, in his letter, wrote, "Smog Tower at Connaught Place, Delhi, was installed by DPC on the directions of the' Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter titled MC. Mehta vs. Union of India in 2020 and started operations in August 20...