Vinit Wahi / NEW DELHI
Stressing upon the need to strengthen active collaboration between the government, industries, industry associations and all stakeholders, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that the World Ozone Day offers an opportunity to focus global attention and action on the vital environmental issue of protection of the ozone Layer.
He added that this is a hallmark in implementation of ODS phase-out programme in the country. He pointed out that the Ministry has already undertaken an important initiative for upskilling of 100,000 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Servicing technicians in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) – Skill India Mission. The Minister underlined the need to work consistently under the aegis of the Montreal Protocol to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the draft India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) and a booklet on ‘Montreal Protocol – India’s Success Story’. A refurbished website on the Ozone Cell of the Ministry and a Management Information System (MIS) for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) were also launched on the occasion.
The Minister also released two handbooks for trainers and technicians on “Good Service Practices and installation of room air-conditioners with HCFC-22 and flammable refrigerants”.