Jaipur, February 26 The Rajasthan government on Thursday informed the assembly that ₹344.70 crore has been allocated under the 15th Finance Commission for improving air quality in Jaipur.
The funds have been provided by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation for measures aimed at curbing pollution.
Responding to a query during Question Hour, Minister of State for Environment Sanjay Sharma said that coordinated efforts by the Centre and the state, along with the promotion of electric vehicles and green development works, would improve Jaipur's air quality.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari are making sustained efforts to promote electric mobility in the country. "India is gradually shifting from petroleum-based vehicles to electric vehicles, and increased adoption of e-vehicles will help check pollution," he added.
Sharma informed the House that under the National Clean Air Programme, a green belt has been developed over 21.7 sq km in Jaipur through plantation drives.
He said that a source apportionment study conducted by IIT Kanpur has identified major pollution sources in Jaipur, including dust from roads and construction activities, vehicular and industrial emissions, burning of solid waste, and the use of diesel generator sets.