PMC Installs 10 Mist Based Fountains At Main Chowks On Trial Basis Aiming To Combat Air Pollution
By: Pune Pulse
August 11, 2023
Pune: Guardian Minister of Pune Chandrakant Patil inaugurated the mist based fountain system under National Clean Air Program and distributed subsidies for electric passenger rickshaws. Additionally, funding through public participation will be given to ten women drivers for purchasing e-rickshaw.
Vikram Kumar, Pune Municipal Commissioner, Ravindra Binwade, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Vikas Dhakane, Nitin Shinde of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Jitendra Purohit of ‘ARAI’, Special Task Officer of Guardian Minister Rajendra Muthe, Deputy Commissioner of Environment Department Madhav Jagtap etc were present.
Addressing the gathering Patil said that subsidies are being given for electric rickshaws at the national level. A combined subsidy of 1 lakh is available from the central government and the municipal corporation for e-rickshaws. So, for an average rickshaw, the driver will have to spend Rs 3 lakhs, but as the fuel is saved, the family can get more income. Rickshaw drivers should switch to electric rickshaws as income will increase while reducing pollution in the city. He appealed that the municipal corporation should plan to set up an electric charging station near the rickshaw stand.
After completion of the second phase of metro in the city, 2 lakh citizens will use the option of metro instead of other vehicles. After the third phase, this number will reach 4 lakh, so the pollution will further decrease. Passengers will use an e-rickshaw to reach from home to the metro station. Along with rickshaws, it is also necessary to use CNG and electricity for other vehicles, stated the Guardian Minister.
Patil expressed that the mist based fountain installed in the city square will help reduce the dust in the air and reduce the pollution.
PMC Additional Commissioner Vikas Dhakane said that the population of Pune city has reached 70 lakh and 55 lakh vehicles have been registered. The pollution is increasing due to the large number of outside vehicles. Municipalities are trying at many levels to control pollution. He said that various measures like subsidy to e-rickshaws, use of e-buses, mist based fountains are being taken.
PMC Environment Officer Madhav Jagtap said that funds of Rs 350 crores have been made available to the Municipal Corporation under the National Clean Air Program and the 15th Finance Commission through the Central Government and a subsidy of Rs. 25 thousand per rickshaw has been given to each electric passenger auto rickshaw owner through the Municipal Corporation. He informed that mist based fountains are being set up at 10 places to reduce pollution in major squares of the city and total such fountains will be set up at 40 places.
Nitin Pawar, representative of E-Rickshaw Panchayat, expressed his views on this occasion that Pune is the first municipal corporation in the country to provide subsidy for e-rickshaws.
The program was attended by representatives of electric auto rickshaw manufacturing companies, representatives of rickshaw associations and rickshaw owners.
