LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 6: On the occasion of the ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies,’ the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) and Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) jointly organised a stakeholder workshop ‘Together for Clean Air: Ensuring Blue Skies in Jharkhand’. The event’s purpose was to ignite awareness and rally collective efforts in the pursuit of air quality. With this year’s theme, ‘Together for Clean Air,’ the focus was firmly on recognizing the critical role of clean air in safeguarding public health and encouraging stakeholders to unite in sharing actionable knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions for a cleaner and healthier Jharkhand.
Addressing the conference, A.K. Singh (IAS), Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary-Department of Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education, Jharkhand said, ‘The State government has prioritised the reduction of air pollution at the forefront of the climate agenda. We must unite with a mission-driven approach, aligning our efforts with Sustainable Development Goals while the convergence of actions needed to ensure cleaner air and blue skies in the state.”
Air pollution stands as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, affecting not only human health but also exerting a profound impact on the climate, the economy, and the overall environment. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2019 to establish the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
Emphasising the need of effective climate governance, Dr Sanjay Srivastava (IFS), Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Jharkhand said, ‘We need to strengthen the climate governance to meet the goals of the Nationally Determined Contributions. Implementing best practices to combat climate impacts is our shared responsibility, hence everyone’s effort counts.’
Putting emphasis on science and data driven planning, Dr D.K. Saxena (IFS), APCCF cum Chairman, Air Quality Monitoring Committee, Jharkhand said that active citizen engagement plays a paramount role in galvanizing the momentum required for science-based, solution-driven measures. N.K.Singh (IFS), APCCF-Development, Jharkhand put emphasis on the community-driven climate actions for achieving environmental sustainability. He suggested that informed actions grounded in scientific understanding are key to achieving sustainable air quality improvements.
Elaborating about the measures taken for air quality management, Y.K. Das (IFS), Member Secretary, JSPCB said, “Our relentless commitment to cleaner air is evident through formulation and implementation of Clean Air Action Plan for nine cities under the National Clean Air Program. We have taken stringent control measures to combat air pollution, prioritizing public health. Our mission extends to promoting knowledge sharing, offering health advisories and fostering a healthier and more informed society.”
The conference also featured felicitation of commendable works undertaken by urban local bodies, particularly Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee and other agencies on better air quality management. During the event, college and university students were felicitated for taking part in competitions and campaign related activities. The volunteers of the National Service Scheme (Jharkhand) performed a skit to raise awareness on air pollution.
Dr Manish Kumar, Director-Research and Development, CEED put emphasis on science-based planning, and effective data governance for better air quality management. Dr Atri Gangopadhyay (Pulmonologist) elaborated the health impact caused by the air pollution and suggested to undertake a localised study to address the health problems. P.C. Jha (CMPDI) and Mr Somen Mondal, (Bokaro Thermal Power Supply) presented the initiatives on controlling industrial pollution for sustainable environment.
The workshop presented key recommendations, including the identification of pollution hotspots, localized solutions to address pollution sources, public education strategies for high-pollution days and the user-friendly apps to address citizen grievances.
The event drew the enthusiastic participation of key representatives of corporate groups such Tata Steel, Tata Power, Adani Industries, public sector undertakings such as CCL, SAIL, BCCL and leading academic institutions such as Ranchi University, Shyama Prasad Mukherji University, Central University, Amity University, medical professionals, civil society organisations and citizen groups across the state.
