Chandigarh Administration plans to make city carbon neutral by 2030

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 25

Amid rising pollution, the UT Administration plans to make Chandigarh carbon neutral by 2030.

At the inaugural session of a two-day vision workshop on “Future Ready Chandigarh-2030 & Beyond” here today, UT Adviser Dharam Pal highlighted the current focus areas of the Administration such as clean city, green city, smart city (smart transport, buildings, command and control centres), heritage preservation and protection and development plans.

“There are some challenges which need to be dealt with in the future. These are making Chandigarh a regional hub for education, health, commerce, service, IT, manufacturing of micro chips, medical instruments, future planning of rural areas and readiness for climate change, including possibility of making Chandigarh carbon neutral by 2030,” he shared.

UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit officially opened the workshop, which is being organised by the Chandigarh Administration and is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with an objective of sustainable improvement of urban infrastructure and services and setting out the desired future roadmap for future ready Chandigarh.

Informative sessions by visionaries of diverse areas that touch crucial subjects directly connected to the development of the city will be part of the workshop.

The Administrator said, “I am sure the workshop will give an opportunity for bringing about better cohesion and provide a platform for interaction among all stakeholders in meeting our common objectives. After the workshop, there should be appropriate follow-up action to turn this vision into reality.”

“Chandigarh needs to keep evolving new paradigms of governance with communities at the core, and an increased use of technology to improve its urban infrastructure, services and optimum utilisation of resources. It should keep driving the economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local area development and harnessing technology,” said Purohit.

The first day kickstarted with an inaugural session wherein Vikas Verma, Regional Head, North, UNDP, explained the role and objective of the workshop.

The first thematic group began with a presentation on Chandigarh Smart City projects and future challenges and goals by Anindita Mitra, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, which was followed by case studies and findings on green buildings — needs and benefits, urban resilience and infrastructure, learning from the Delhi Master Plan, green mobility and its future in India.

Historical perspective of Chandigarh, cities and multi-level governance, economic valuation of ecosystems and low carbon strategies were discussed by the second thematic group, under which the Chandigarh aspect was showcased by Debendra Dalai, Secretary, Science and Technology, and Nitika Pawar, Secretary, Social Welfare and Women Development.

Palika Arora, Director, School Education, shared the context on the thematic area of education and skill development in Chandigarh, which was followed by informative sessions on future of green jobs, new age job avenues and industrial growth and economic development in the region.

Five key thematic areas

• Urban infra and planning, transport & mobility
• Environment, climate, tourism & heritage preservation
• Education, skill development, employment, economic ability
• Health, nutrition and well-being
• Social protection and safety for all

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