SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Oct 19: A two-day air quality leadership workshop on ‘Clean Air and Better Health’ was organised by Ranchi Press Club, ASAR and CEEW in an effort to spread awareness regarding the eminent need for changes in the thermal generation of electricity and the subsequent air pollution. The workshop that began on Oct 18 ended on Wednesday.
Guest speakers on the occasion were Neeraj Kuldeep, renewable energy team co-lead, CEEW and Bhawna Tyagi, CEEW; and Kundan Pandey from Mongabay India. Chief guests on the occasion were Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Ranchi Municipal Corporation commissioner Shashi Ranjan and Biodiversity Board Chairman Sarvesh Singhal.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Mahua Maji, explained how uranium pollution is affecting the population in the state and how scientists need to work to reduce the after effects of it all. She also shared her thoughts on solar energy, wind energy, nuclear energy and thermal energy, and how all of those affect the environment. She further added that humans need to lessen their usage of energy sources and realise that it is possible to use less electricity and be adaptable to using lesser electricity.
Bhawna and Neeraj introduced the Jharkhand government’s Solar Policy in detail. Bhawna said, “The primary mission for residential and industrial consumption was to make solar energy use up to the maximum level.” She explained how much energy is used in the different sectors and how solar energy can be a better option and cost-effective along with the possibility of extra income for people with more area for set up of a solar plant.
She also mentioned the different subsidies provided by the government in residential, industrial and agricultural set-up, along with the different charges. Bhawna further explained how setting up solar power plants is mandatory for every government institution in an effort by the government to encourage people to turn towards solar options for energy.
Furthermore, Jharkhand’s situation of power supply and demand was explained along with the government’s plan to become the leading state in solar energy. Bhawna also explained the national goals in terms of solar energy.
Neeraj explained the media’s role in spreading awareness regarding solar energy setups as an easier option. He further explained how around 50 percent of people in a survey in rural Jharkhand were those who have heard of solar energy but don’t have the information of how it all works; while the rest had not even heard of it. He said that in a similar survey in urban areas in the state, only 55 percent had heard of solar energy and the rest
Kundan Pandey, while addressing the audience explained how ground reports can be done on air pollution and energy and the different support systems set up for the new media. Along with this, Pandey also pointed out how it is also important to make sure that the transition from thermal to solar energy options does not affect the workers in the thermal industry.
He said that it would be important to create job or work opportunities for the lakhs of people that will be affected by the closure of the thermal energy industry. Pandey also explained the increasing demand for digital media and content providers.
Furthermore, chief guest Sarvesh Singhal explained the importance of the smallest of the creatures that are affected by global warming and in turn affect humans and the subsequent change. Shashi Ranjan talked about the role the Ranchi Municipal Corporation plays in maintaining air quality in the city along with the RMCs future plans for a better model to curb air pollution.
