Jammu & Kashmir : Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo conducted a review on Monday of the measures being taken to improve air quality in the cities of Jammu and Kashmir. The assessment was part of the UT Apex Committee meeting of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Dulloo urged city administrations to demonstrate greater commitment to achieving the air quality targets set under the national program for the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar. He emphasized the importance of completing ongoing works within the current financial year, accelerating tendering processes, and making concerted efforts to enhance air quality through eco-friendly measures. The Chief Secretary underscored the significance of clean air in determining the quality of urban life, calling for coordinated efforts to implement the NCAP effectively.
The meeting was attended by various officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, PCCF, Secretary Transport, and Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations. Dheeraj Gupta, ACS Forests, provided information about the National Clean Air Programme, a time-bound action plan launched in January 2019 to improve air quality in non-attainment cities. The meeting highlighted the allocation of funds amounting to Rs94.60 crore to municipal bodies in the twin cities, the establishment of 19 Manual Air Quality Monitoring Stations, and the real-time display of air quality data through various monitoring systems in Jammu and Srinagar. The Chief Secretary stressed the need for coordinated efforts to achieve the objectives of the program and improve the air quality for residents of the region.
