October 5, 2019

About 150 delegates from across a cross section of sustainability and environment experts, architects, RWA officials, NGOs heads, schools of Gurugram joined in for “Gurugram Environment Conclave”. The Conclave addressed the problems of polluted air, depleting ground water, choking waste burden and receding forest of Gurugram. The Conclave was very timely given the fact that the World Environment Day (June 5) was just around the corner and it is important that build environment awareness.

  The chief guest of the Conclave is Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister for State, Ministry of Urban Development.  The highlight of the workshop is the book release on “Roadmap and Framework for Sustainable Development of Gurugram”  The book has been written by Centre for Science and Environment and Gurgaon First after extensive consultations with MCG and citizen bodies. The guidance framework and the action agenda in the book is based on consultation with local stakeholders is an opportunity to ensure Gurugram grows without compromising its liveability. Given the fact that the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority is also constituted, it is desired that all future development in the city has strong underpinnings of sustainability.
Speaking on the occasion, Rao Inderjit Singh said that sustainability and environment should be given the highest priority in Gurugram, he added, “Punjab Land Preservation Act mandates that all trees growing in southern Haryana can’t be cut. This act should be allowed to continue.” He assured the gathering that a high level task force will be created for Environment Protection in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Anumita Roychowdhary said, “the sustainability framework for Gurugram is an opportunity to set the terms of action at the early stages of growth to reduce environment impact, public health risk and ensure well-being for all.” Shubhra Puri, founder Gurgaon First said that the conclave has received great response from all stakeholders of Gurugram. Hoping that the framework on Sustainability will be taken up seriously by the local administration she said, “we will make Gurugram Environment Conclave an annual affair”.

The Conclave had four sessions on Air; Water; Waste; and Forest and Green Cover followed by an address by Rao Inderjt Singh and the book release. The speakers were Dr Srikant Panigrahi, Director-General, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development, Dr Sudhir Krishna, former secretary MoUD, Anumita Roychowdhary, Executive Director, CSE, Dr Himanshu Garg, Head, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Artemis Hospital, Sudhir Pillai, GM-Homes, Honeywell , Dr Prashant Garghava, Additional Director and Head AQM Division, Central Pollution Control Board, Col Prakash Tewari, Advisor-CSR, DLF Foundation, Chetan Agarwal, Environmentalist, Gurugram. Ravi Varanashi, GM-Sustainability, Kohler, Dr D Chakravorty, Senior Hydro Geologist, Central Ground Water Commission Dr Shyamala Mani, Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Gurpreet Kaur, Action in Community and Training, Priya Mehrish, Waste Champion, Regency Park -II, Pooja Lahri, National Project Management Unit, Swachh Bharat-Urban, Debashish Tripathy, Vice-President (Environment), IL&FS and Shubhra Puri, Founder, Gurgaon First.

The strategic partner for the event was Municipal Corporation of Gurugram. CSE was knowledge partner. The lead sponsors were Nagarro (IT), Honeywell (Air purification solutions), Kohler (water efficiency solutions) while the display sponsors were IL&FS Environment (C&D waste) (Greenaria) organic composter), Chakra (controlling air pollution), Alfa Therm (organic composter) and Paras Hospitals. Our support partners were Nasscom, Indian institute of Sustainable Development,Carbon Minus India, I am Gurgaon and, TTC Global. Atlanta Healthcare provided a real-time analysis of air quality. For details, please contact:

• Shubhra Puri, Gurgaon First, [email protected], 9910148148 
• Souparno Banerjee, Centre for Science and Environment, [email protected], 9910864339