Minister, civic body officials discuss steps to improve air quality in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16

To deliberate on issues related to control of air pollution in the city and to discuss various aspects of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the scheme of Central Government for improvement of air quality, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu along with Mayor Balkar Singh Sidhu, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal and senior officials from various stakeholder departments at the Municipal Corporation Zone-D Office on Wednesday.

Ashu said though there was a grave problem of air pollution in the city and that was why various stakeholder departments must play proactive role for the successful implementation of clean air mission for Ludhiana which would pave a great path towards the improvement of quality of air, thereby positively effecting health and life of citizens of the city. He also directed the officials concerned to complete their tasks towards the collective project in a time-bound manner.

Sandeep Bahl, senior environmental engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 10 crore under the scheme to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, of which Rs 6 Crore has been released by the MoEF for the city under the NCAP.

Bahl said: “Now, as per 15th Finance Commission funds have been allocated to urban local bodies for improvement of air quality. Under it, Rs 52 crore has been allocated to Ludhiana, of which Rs 26 crore is going to be released to the Municipal Corporation. Under this, an assessment criteria has been defined based on strengthening of institutional framework, cause analysis of air pollution, progress on action plan and quantification of air quality.”

Officials from various stakeholder departments were briefed about their roles and responsibilities under these programmes and the MC was advised by the chairperson during the meeting to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for utilisation of funds received by the civic body from the Central Government, which are to be utilised towards handling and disposal of municipal solid waste effectively, improvement of road infrastructure for smooth traffic movement, regular and mechanical cleaning of roads, increasing of green cover in the city, imposing ban on burning of garbage and providing intelligent traffic lights for the smooth traffic movement.

Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said with the effective partnership of all stakeholder departments, these schemes would be implemented successfully and certainly bring down the air pollution load of the city.