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Paharpur Business Centre beats hill stations with green process; employees get better lungs, far fewer headaches

Feel Fresh: Paharpur Business Centre at Nehru Place

THE city's buzzing, filthy electronics hub Nehru Place houses the purest air among the Capital's commercial buildings.

The Paharpur Business Centre (PBC) here has better air than any other workplace in the city, according to a new study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Kolkata's Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute. Darjeeling (at 350 µg/m3) has nearly four times the suspended particulate matter than the Paharpur office (92 µg/m3).

The 340-page study was released in September. As part of it, 1,438 people were clinically examined and 6,005 surveyed through questionnaires.

"If this can be achieved at Nehru Place, it can be accomplished anywhere," said Kamal Meattle, CEO of PBC, who conceptualised this project when his lung capacity had dropped to 70 per cent, like most urban professionals. "It's back to 100 per cent now, but the important question is: why wasn't Paryavaran Bhawan or the Prime Minister's house the first to lead by example?"

For workers at PBC, clean air has meant 24 per cent less headaches, 52 per cent less eye irritation, 20 less chances of hypertension and 12 per cent more lung power.

"If all industrial units stick to norms laid down by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the city would be much cleaner," said JM Mauskar, chairman, CPCB, in a telephonic conversation from Poland. "But people don't cooperate. For instance, only 10 per cent households segregate domestic waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable components, the rest is still left for the municipality to do. Our attempt is to bark before we bite, since we know of places that have the resources but still don't care because of the cost of sustenance. It's a tragedy."

The air purification process at PBC is simple.

"It is easy for offices to replicate what we do. Only, it is manpower-intensive," said Deshandra Renjen, general manager of PBC.

The air on top of the seven-storey building, which is least loaded with harmful particles, is passed through a huge water tank so that water-soluble oxides are removed. Next, it goes through UV light so that bacteria is destroyed and finally, it is pumped into a greenhouse where the carbon dioxide is converted into oxygen.

This air comes into the work area through high-pressure filters fitted to the AC ducts. There is a dedicated employee to sponge and wipe leaves of office plants throughout the day to ensure no dust settles on them.

The rooftop and work areas are high on inexpensive plants suited to Delhi conditions. Four plants per person is enough to convert into oxygen the carbon dioxide breathed out by an individual in 8-10 hours.

A separate smoking area is attached with high-pressure filters, and the rest of the building is a no-paan-chewing, no-munching zone.

PBC is the only organisation in Delhi that conform to indoor air quality standards laid down by the American Society for Housing, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers.

"Since they use a natural method, it is way more effective in terms of cost and quality than any artificial system, so there's a huge lesson there," said KT Ravindran, urban designer and ecological architect.

"In case you feel like going to Pahalgaum but don't have the time, just walk in here," signed off Meattle.