New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea to reconsider its decision for setting up of smog tower in Delhi, as a pilot project to combat the menace of air pollution, and the Centre informed the apex court that work on the project has already begun.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra asked the Delhi Chief Secretary to file affidavit on the present status of 13 pollution hotspots in the national capital and also apprise it on the measures taken to control the pollution level.

A counsel appearing for the petitoner, who filed an intervention application in the matter, contended before the bench that the smog towers will not only lead to money making by Chinese companies but also has no scientific basis.

Justice Mishra said the arguments have no merit and the court is not willing to recall its order on the construction of smog towers. The bench declined to entertain the plea.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the Centre informed the bench that the University of Minnesota, is the licensee sharing the scope of deliverables and scope of transfer of technology and submitted that a joint affidavit has been filed by the Centre and CPCB.

The IIT Bombay and TATA projects have tied up with University of Minnesota as it is a patent protected innovation, added Mehta.

Mehta contended on August 8, site survey work is over, and the collection of soil samples is underway and geo-technical investigation is going on for the circle design, and this is being done, as it is essential structural stability. "We are on the process of appointing an architect to make site drawing etc," said Mehta.

The apex court peruses the August 9 affidavit filed by Ministry of Environment and Forests in the case and scheduled the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.