City becomes part of global observatory

WHO scientists to work on decreasing air pollution in holy city

Tribune news service

Amritsar, November 14

Amritsar has become a member of the Global Urban Air Pollution Observatory, a regulatory body comprising of global cities such as New York, London, Paris and Madrid.

MP Gurjeet Aujla said Amritsar was now among the selected cities across the globe, where a team of scientists under the World Health Organisation would be working to evaluate the factors for rising air pollution and devising measures to control it. While addressing a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), Aujla said urban areas would be studied to control the air pollution and collaborations would be done to provide funding for the implementation of preventive measures. He said the first Global Urban Air Pollution Committee meeting would be held in Paris on November 27 and he would attend it as a delegate. “The main purpose of the meeting is to examine various schemes being implemented by the Central Government and the state government to control air pollution,” said Aujla.

Aujla also took stock of various projects running under the HRIDAY scheme, Smart City mission and other development schemes. Directing officials concerned to rapidly implement the ongoing projects to ensure highest quality, Aujla said punitive measures would be taken in case any irregularities were detected. He said a project to install 66,000 LED street lights, under the Smart City project, at a cost of Rs36 crore had already begun.

Khadoor Sahib MP, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, who is also co-chairman of the DISHA committee, also reviewed the ongoing works in schools and anganwadi centers in his constituency. In his address, he also called for a stern action against drug mafia. Deputy Commissioner Shivdular Singh, Attari MLA Tarsem Singh DC and Amritsar North MLA Sunil Dutti also attended the meeting.