Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (January 1) flagged off 100 new CNG-run buses, as part of the Smart City Mission. He also inaugurated the city’s first CNG fuel station. The CM said the launch of the CNG-run buses and the inauguration of the fuel station were decisive steps for “gradual but firm mitigation” of the impacts of climate change and global warming. The CNG buses were gifted by Guwahati Smart City Ltd to Assam State Transport Corporation. The passenger vehicles are equipped with air-conditioning, fire-detection, global positioning systems and several other features, and will be operated by ASTC.
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Noting that excessive use of fossil fuel, such as petrol and diesel, is the prime reason for global warming, the CM said the carbon emission from the use of such energy is creating climatic imbalances in many parts of the globe, including Assam.
It is important that “all must unite to mitigate the impacts of climate change and work out a long-term and permanent solution”, he said, adding that green energy, such as compressed natural gas, is the answer to the problem.
Live : Attending Inauguration programme of CNG Bus and station at ISBT, Guwahati https://t.co/i86AVGR0Op
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 1, 2023
The gradual transition towards clean and green fuel in the public transport system of Guwahati would ensure that the state contributes towards the nation’s commitments on capping carbon emissions, Sarma said.
Gradually, other public transport vehicles, such as auto-rickshaws, and vans, would also be brought under the ambit of CNG, while the possibility of allowing CNG-run private vehicles would also be explored, he said.
The CM hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing the gas-grid project, without which the launch of CNG station in Assam wouldn’t have been possible.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diarrhoea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
