State level observance of World Ozone Day organised today

Ludhiana, September 16, 2021: A State Level observance of the World Ozone Day was organised by Punjab Pollution Control Board at Pal Auditorium, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana today to commemorate the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
PPCB Chairman Professor (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig and Er. Krunesh Garg, Member Secretary of Punjab Pollution Control Board graced the occasion with their presence. Professor Avneet Kaur from Guru Engineering College Ludhiana and Sh. Sushil Mittal, Ex-Deputy Director, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala gave their expert opinion regarding the ill effects of excessive UV radiations which escape the earth’s atmosphere due to depletion of Ozone Layer. 
They further pressed upon the need to curb the use of Chlorofluorocarbons, which are the major cause of depletion of ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. The need to push the research and development activities in this field in India with focus on potential alternatives of Chlorofluorocarbons such as hydrofluorocarbons was also deliberated.
Professor (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, PPCB also stressed upon the need to curb the use of Chlorofluorocarbons. He also brought out the menace of stubble burning, which is one of the major problems being faced by the State of Punjab. He brought the available in-situ stubble management practices and also encouraged the industrial units to stubble as fuel in their boilers.
Er. Krunesh Garg, Member Secretary informed about the various activities being carried out by the Board for the control of pollution in the state with special emphasis on Ludhiana City. Phasing out of ACs and refrigerators based on CFCs, phasing out of single use plastics, reduced dependence of fossil fuels which are major sources of Green House Emissions and adoption of good practices such carpooling to reduce intercity traffic were discussed.
Er. Gulshan Rai, Chief Environmental Engineer, Er. Raj Kumar Goyal, Senior Environmental Engineer, Er. Gurbakshish Singh Gill, Senior Environmental Engineer were also present.