Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 2nd Aerosol Winter School – ‘Manthan 2024’ at Central University of Jammu today The initiative, jointly undertaken by Central University of Jammu, Sindhu Central University Ladakh, and Indian National Young Academy of Science, aims to provide hands-on training in instrumentation, analytical techniques, and remote sensing tools for air quality studies, aligning with the objectives of the National Clean Air Programme.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor stressed the importance of collaborative efforts and cross-sectoral coordination to address the pressing issue of air pollution, which has emerged as a significant health concern.
“Air sustains life. Now the time has come for us to sustain the availability of clean air. Mother Nature is reminding us to learn proper lessons from the wrong steps of the past and work towards a cleaner and greener planet,” remarked the Lt Governor.
Highlighting the resolve of the UT Administration to combat air pollution, he emphasized the need for an effective monitoring network, inclusive public participation, and capacity-building initiatives for sustainable solutions.
The Lt Governor announced a financial allocation of Rs 1.5 crore from the Forest, Ecology, and Environment Department for the strengthening of the Himalayan Aerosol Research Instrumentation center at Central University of Jammu. Furthermore, he assured the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism of the UT Administration’s support for expanding research-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the sidelines of the event, a Service Level Agreement was signed between the District Skill Committee Samba and the School of Business Studies, Central University of Jammu, to facilitate capacity building and skill courses in Samba District under the SANKALP Scheme.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu, Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Forests, Prof AP Dimri, Director Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Prof Sachin S Gunthe from IIT Madras, Abhishek Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Samba, along with experts, HoDs, faculty members, and students.