SURAT: To improve cities’ ambient air quality across the country, the central government has allotted grants during 2020-21 under its clean air programme. Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is set to receive Rs 65.5 crore under this project.
According to officials, the central government has already released grants to various cities across the country based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. As per details, besides Surat, Ahmedabad will get Rs 91 crore, Rajkot Rs20 crore, Vadodara Rs26 crore under this programme.
“We have already undertaken various measures to improve the air quality in the city and more programmes will be undertaken in coming future. We are going to add 10 more emission monitoring stations besides the two existing ones in the city. The government grants will be utilised to improve air quality mainly,” Banchhanidhi Pani, Surat municipal commissioner told TOI.
"To improve air quality, we have already closed a solid waste dumping site at Khajod and are introducing electric buses in BRTS corridors while phasing out old vehicles at SMC,” Pani added.