Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Saturday lauded the union of modern and traditional knowledge to tackle air pollution in the country.
Addressing the valedictory session of National Youth Conference on Vayu: The Vital Life Force at Siksha O Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Choubey stressed on the role of panchmahabhoot, the five basic elements of creation in sustaining and nurturing life.
He said there’s an immense trove of knowledge left by ancient Indian civilizations, who lived in harmony with the planet and nature.
“It’s time India rediscovers the significance and relevance of Indian thought, and initiatives are taken to promote the Bharatiya world view at the global level,” the minister said.
He appreciated the dissemination of knowledge through technical sessions and paper presentations on various aspects of air quality management like atmospheric sciences, thermal pollution, role of meteorology, composition of air, climate change, impact on agriculture, among others.
Choubey observed that the Central government has taken several measures for air quality management, like developing National Clean Air Programme with air pollution reduction targets, augmenting air quality monitoring network (manual & real time), etc.
“This conference takes the efforts forward by bringing together all the important stakeholders and helping us broaden the discussion on air quality improvement. The conference strengthens the message that we need to adopt as per nature and treat nature and culture with respect,” he told a gathering of over 900 delegates.
He urged the youth of the country to present innovative ideas in such youth conferences to solve air quality challenges.
