On Friday, several civil society organisations of local, regional and national importance held a city-level meeting in Bhubaneswar to give suggestions on the city’s clean air policy in order for it to become an ‘attainment city’ when it comes to tackling air pollution. The organisations, led by the SwitchON Foundation, have brought together various stakeholders including urban local bodies, experts, volunteers, government officials and academics as part of an initiative called Odisha CAN. The goal of this forum is to create a robust mechanism to combat the issue.
Hadibandhu Panigrahi, Senior Environmental Scientist from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board said this kind of forum can provide pragmatic solutions to air pollution. He noted that as government officials, they are devoted to support such efforts in order to build a healthier and more sustainable future.
The SwitchON Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to create awareness around the environment, energy and waste management. It was founded in 2017 and has since launched several initiatives such as the Earth Day Cleanup, the Earth Hour Challenge, and the Waste Warriors Challenge. They have also published several books and conducted over 1000 workshops in 33 countries. SwitchON works with schools, governments, and media organizations to develop skills and knowledge, and to form partnerships for the protection of our planet.
Hadibandhu Panigrahi has a vast experience gained from over 25 years of working on environment, natural resources, and air quality. He has worked with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, several government departments, and universities. He has also been involved in research projects and technical assignments, such as air quality measurement and analysis. In addition to this, he is actively involved in various civic activities related to air pollution, nature conservation, and environment protection.
