Punjab Govt. inks MoU with TERI

Chandigarh, September 18, 2012:The Punjab Government today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to jointly address the issues pertaining to climate change, sustainable development, conservation and optimal use of water and other critical resources, energy conservation and efficiency.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the CMO said that the MoU was signed by Principal Secretary Science, Technology and Environment Karan Avtar Singh and Director General Teri Dr. Rajendra K Pachauri in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at CMO this morning. 

Highly appreciating the joint efforts taken by the TERI and the Science Technology, Environment & Non-conventional Energy department in the signing of this historic agreement, Badal hoped this unique initiative would go a long way in evolving a concrete policy to promote research and development especially in the areas of climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, water management, pollution abatement, agriculture, forestry and biotechnology.  He urged Dr. Pachauri to set up another institute in Punjab under his able guidance and leadership in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University to give a further impetus in the ongoing agricultural research besides tackling the problem of poor quality of water in some parts of the state due to the presence of uranium and other heavy metals. 

Meanwhile, Karan A. Singh apprised the Chief Minister that the department had already mooted a proposal to the Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI for the establishment of Institute of Advanced Studies & Research on Climate Change by TERI in collaboration with PAU and hoped the proposal would be cleared soon and the project would start within current fiscal.  

Taking part in the deliberations, Dr. Pachauri lauded the unstinted support and cooperation extended by the officers of the state government in putting this prestigious project in place in such a short time. He emphasized the need to focus mutual efforts as already stipulated in the MoU on sustainable development, which was the key area to ensure overall development, growth and prosperity of the state besides the welfare of its people.  He evinced keen interest to set up TERI institute in Punjab with PAU to mutually address the issues of public import pertaining to the environment and efficient use of resources. 

Prominent amongst others who attended the ceremony, included Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Financial Commissioner Development GS Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Forests DS Bains, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce AR Talwar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Local Govt. Suresh Kumar, Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor PAU BS Dhillon, Special Principal Secretary to CM KJS Cheema, Chief Executive Officer PEDA TPS Sidhu and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests HS Gujral