The Embassy of the United States of America today opened a two-day workshop here on combating air pollution in North India. Shri Manpreet Singh, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board and Prof. Arun Kumar Grover, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University inaugurated the workshop, which is part of a series of workshops being held in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Lucknow from May 17-26. The workshops are organized by the RTI International, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and support President Obama and Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to develop cooperative efforts to study the effects of air pollution on human health and well-being.
The objective of these workshops is to provide a forum to initiate and strengthen collaboration between U.S. and Indian air quality experts, consider best practices to combat air pollution in North India, and build consensus and strategy for follow-on action. About a dozen U.S. policy-makers, world-renowned scientists, and industry-sector experts are participating. The workshops will include presentations on the health effects of air pollution, impact on industry and their mitigation efforts, and air quality management and policy. The second day will be focused mostly on group discussions and break-out sessions, ending with a panel discussion aimed at developing a workable strategy for tackling air pollution in North India.
The U.S. Embassy Minister Counselor for Economic, Environment, Science and Technology Affairs, Mr. George N. Sibley, opened the proceedings in Chandigarh today. He said, “For the most part, in democratic countries like the U.S. and India, action comes when people understand the level of pollution they are exposed to and the health effects that result. For someone who cares about air pollution, the past few years have been an exciting time in this country.” The workshop series ends with a special closing ceremony in Lucknow on May 26.
| City | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi |
May 17-18 (2 full days) Opening ceremony: 9:00-10:15 a.m. Closing Panel Session: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. |
The Taj Mahal Hotel |
| Chandigarh |
May 20-21 (1.5 days) Opening ceremony: 9:00-10:10 a.m. Closing Panel Session: 12:20-1:30 p.m. |
Taj Chandigarh |
| Jaipur |
May 23-24 (1.5 days) Opening ceremony: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Closing Panel Session: 11:40-12:40 p.m. |
Jai Mahal Palace |
| Lucknow |
May 25-26 (2 full days) Opening ceremony: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Closing Panel Session: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Closing ceremony: 4:45-6:00 p.m. |
Vivanta-Taj |
