Experts discuss the issue of air pollution in NCR

CHANDIGARH: Haryana IAS Officers’ Association held a meeting of academicians and state administrators to discuss the menace of air pollution in National Capital Region (NCR) and its impact on urban planning. The seminar titled ‘Pollution and Urban Planning Issues in NCR’ was held in Chandigarh, Haryana on Saturday.

Some of the prominent attendees of the session included MM Kutty, Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, and KK Khandelwal, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board. The Chief Secretary of Haryana Sanjeev Kaushal, who is also the President of the Association, stressed on the importance of such discussions as sources for exchange of expert knowledge and devise innovative solutions. Haryana’s efforts at resolving the problem of stubble burning were applauded and was encouraged to keep at it.

One of the proposed solutions was launching a mass awareness campaign about stubble burning through IEC strategy (information, education and communication). Jagan Shah, former Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, spoke about health hazards of poor air quality and transit-oriented development.