London gets Indian-origin deputy mayor

London, August 23

Indian-origin philanthropist Shirley Rodrigues has been appointed as London mayor Sadiq Khan's deputy for environment and energy and she will be responsible for setting up a not-for-profit company aimed at boosting recycling rates and producing low carbon energy.

"Shirley Rodrigues brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience and is the perfect person to deliver my agenda to make London a cleaner and greener city. Shirley will drive forward the urgent action needed to ensure Londoners no longer have to fear the air we breathe and will address the failure to tackle the problem by the previous mayor and government," Khan said in a statement last week.

Rodrigues will be responsible for setting up a not-for-profit company, to be called Energy for Londoners, aimed at helping the British capital boost its recycling rates and produce more of its own, low carbon energy.

Rodrigues becomes the second deputy mayor of Indian origin to join Khan's team, after Indore-born Rajesh Agarwal was appointed to the business portfolio last month.

She said: “I am delighted to be working with Sadiq on his ambitious plans to make London one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.” — PTI