JKPCC observes “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies”

JAMMU : To mark observance of “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies,” Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee on Thursday organised an Interactive Webinar on the theme “The Air We Share.”

The objective was to deliberate upon the status of air quality in J&K, need for collaborative accountability and action to ensure clean air for all and to have a common platform for discussion among the regulators and concerned stakeholders including various industrial units operating in J&K.

Principal Scientific Officer JKPCC, Neelu Sharma welcomed the participants and briefed about the objective of the Interactive webinar.

Sat Paul, Regional Director, JKPCC, Jammu talked in detail about the observance of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies since three years w.e.f. 2019 and stressed upon the need to contribute towards ensuring clean air by adopting different green technologies.

Dr. Neelu Gera, Chairperson J&K Pollution Control Committee gave a detailed overview of the causes and sources of air pollution and need to act in a strategic manner to combat air pollution by collaborative efforts for efficient implementation of mitigation policies and actions to ensure Jammu and Srinagar cities to be within the safer limits of air quality.

Dr. Yash Paul Scientist, Head labs JKPCC, Jammu presented a detailed overview of the status of air quality in J&K, changing trends and actions taken by JKPCC including air quality monitoring being carried out by JKPCC and installation of CAAQMS.

K. D Bhardwaj, Regional Director, Environment & Energy, Group Head International Services, NPC, pointed out various source preventive measures like traffic management and closing of most polluting industries as preliminary mandatory steps to move towards carbon neutrality.

Professor, K. R. Chari, President & CEO, SRC Systems and Reengineering Consultants, made a detailed presentation about the waste to energy options and the need to focus on circular economy, while planning about reducing carbon footprints.

Dr. Arshid Jahangir, Sr. Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kashmir made a presentation regarding “Siting innovations for conducting Ambient Air Quality Monitoring” and shared details to be considered while making site selection for establishment of air monitoring stations.

In the webinar, best available technological practices, viz., installation of Effluent Treatment Plants, Sewage treatment plants, Air pollution control devices like wet scrubbers and maintenance of green belts, adopted by various industrial units in J&K, have been shared by Chenab Textile Mills, Kathua, M/s Ganpati Cements, Kathua and President Industrial Association, Khonmoh, Srinagar with detailed operational techniques.

Making closing remarks on the occasion, K. Ramesh Kumar, Member Secretary, JKPCC, stressed upon the need to replicate demo industrial models with green technological options to reduce carbon footprints in J&K. He also informed about the Brochure published by JKPCC on “Trees- Friends of Industries” to facilitate industrial units in selection of suitable tree species for plantation in industrial areas for abatement of air pollution in industrial areas.

The event culminated with a formal vote of thanks by Rafi Ahmad Bhat, Regional Director, JKPCC, Kashmir.