JALANDHAR
A State Level Function was organized by the Punjab Pollution Control Board in collaboration with Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala to celebrate the 5th International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The theme of this year’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is “Invest in Clean Air Now”.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is commemorated annually on 7th September in recognition of the fact that clean air is important for the health and day-to-day lives of people, while air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) designated the Day to emphasize the need to make further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health.
Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board was the Chief Guest at the event. He shared the details of initiatives taken by
Punjab Pollution Control Board for Control of Pollution in the State. The farmers of the State were urged to stop stubble burning in the coming paddy season which is a major contributor to Air Pollution. He stressed shunning the practice of use
of Single-use plastic and plastic carry bags and urged the audience to take guidance from our Indian culture of reuse and zero wastage. He also shared the details of various measures taken under the NCAP program for the reduction of PM10 and PM2.5 in cities. Prominent environmentalists, industrialists, panelists, officers of PPCB and Municipal Corporations, and students of Punjab Technical University were present at the event.
Dr. G Sridhar, Director General, Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio Energy, Kapurthala and Dr. Sushil Mittal, Vice Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala were also present at the event. They shared themvaluable knowledge with the audience.
Dr. Chandar Parkash, Program Coordinator (NSS), Punjab Technical University delivered a Technical Lecture on the National Clean Air Program. Prof. (Dr.) Hitesh Sharma, Dean, of Planning and External Program, PTU, and Mr. Alok Jha, Student Coordinator also delivered lectures on various aspects of Air Pollution and the necessary steps required for mitigation of air pollution.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF& CC), Govt. of India launched the National Clean Air Programme in January 2019. It is a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to address theair pollution problem in India comprehensively. The NCAP aims to implement comprehensive mitigation measures for the prevention, control, and reduction ofair pollution in 131 Indian cities. Among these 09 cities are in the State of Punjab.
Poster-making and declamation competitions were held among the students. The winners were awarded cash prizes and certificates. Jute bags were distributed to all the participants. The event concluded with the National Anthem
of India. After the event a plantation drive was launched, and saplings were planted by the dignitaries.
Thereafter, Chairman, PPCB demonstrated the Mobile Van of PPCB for Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring to the dignitaries and the
students. The van will stay at PTU for a week for a demonstration to the students and the faculty of the university.