The United States of America (USA) has appreciated the Haryana Government for various effective measures being taken for keeping a check on the air pollution caused due to vehicular traffic and stubble burning especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) and offered all technological expertise to effectively deal with this problem.
Kenneth I. Juster, Ambassador of the USA to India who called on Chief Minister Manohar lal here on Wednesday said that both Haryana and USA could work together on this issue of great importance which would go a long way in making the entire state pollution free.
This would be a great achievement, said Kenneth adding that he is confident that Haryana would emerge as a leader in this area.
He also commended the State Government for declaring Haryana as kerosene free and Open Defecation Free (ODF) State.
Juster served as US Under Secretary of Commerce from 2001-2005, in charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security. He also co-founded and served as the US Chair of the US- India High Technology Cooperation Group, and was one of the key architects of the next steps in strategic partnership initiative between the United States and India.
While welcoming Juster, Manohar lal said that the State Government is quite serious on the issue of air pollution and have taken several steps in this direction. The thermal power plants are being converted into green energy plants and much is being done in the area of stubble burning, he siad.
“We are soon going to launch a fleet of 200 buses of clean fuel in Gurugram under the city bus service scheme”, he said adding that the State Government is also promoting CNG filling stations in Haryana.
The Chief Minister said that recently, the government has dedicated Haryana’s first civil airport at Hisar to the people of the state. The State Government plans to develop an aero space manufacturing hub at Hisar for which the Pratt and Whitney, an American aerospace manufacturer with global service operations could provide its technology and expertise, he said.
Manohar lal further said that during his visit to USA in 2015, the Pratt and Whitney had shown interest in developing Research and Development (R&D) facilities in the state.
On this, Juster said that exchange of technology and expertise would further help strengthening the bilateral relations between USA and India and particularly Haryana.
It was informed in the meeting that Haryana is at number one position in many spheres. In terms of Ease of Doing Business ranking, Haryana is the top state in the northern region and third ranked state in the entire country.
It was also informed that a global city is being developed in Gurugram, adjacent to Delhi over 1200 acres of land. In addition, five cities on different themes are proposed to be developed alongwith the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in National Capital Region.
Apart from this, the State Government has taken several other path-breaking initiatives including Saksham Yuva Scheme to provide 100 hour guaranteed work to the educated unemployed youth.
Apart from this, Antodaya Seva Kendras have been set up in the state under which benefit of various government schemes are being provided to the people under one roof.