The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Pune Municipal Corporation have jointly unveiled the ‘Cleaner Air Better Life (CABL) Pune’ initiative, aimed at fostering cleaner air and sustainable development within the city. The program, inaugurated by esteemed Chief Guest Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and CEO of Cummins Inc., seeks to combat escalating air pollution through evidence-based strategies and collaboration among various stakeholders.
Air quality remains a pressing concern for India, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reporting that a significant number of cities fail to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Alarming statistics from the 2021–22 fiscal year reveal that only 38 out of 131 cities achieved their annual pollution reduction targets, underscoring the urgency of addressing air pollution.
Jennifer Rumsey highlighted the collective responsibility, stating, “The launch of the ‘Cleaner Air Better Life’ (CABL) Pune programme reflects our commitment to creating a sustainable world with cleaner air and improved quality of life for our communities. Cummins cannot fulfill its mission of bettering lives without contributing to planetary protection.”
CABL Pune embraces a multi-stakeholder approach by engaging public agencies, educational institutions, civil society, and industries. By harnessing the combined strength of these stakeholders, the initiative aims to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, identify traffic congestion bottlenecks, and implement innovative solutions to combat diverse sources of air pollution.
Ashwath Ram, Chairman of CII’s Cleaner Air Better Life initiative, expressed confidence in Pune’s leadership, stating, “We are delighted to bring the CABL programme to Pune to create a healthier environment for its citizens. Pune is poised to excel among National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities in India.”
Vikram Kumar, Municipal Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation, highlighted Pune’s innovative approach to addressing air pollution, saying, “The Cleaner Air Better Life Pune initiative unites government and the private sector, channelling collective strength towards air pollution control. This convergence of efforts will enable data-driven strategies for tangible improvements in air quality.”
The CABL programme will deliver advanced decision support systems and pioneering pilot projects. Additionally, it will inspire voluntary commitments from stakeholders, encourage adherence to existing policies, and advocate for new policies to curb air pollution.
Seema Arora, Deputy Director General at CII, affirmed that the initiative would leverage CII’s expertise and network to bring practical improvements while working alongside governments to test and validate ideas for wider adoption.
The initiative’s launch included the “Clean Air: Mission Pune Ideathon” for students from Cummins College of Engineering for Women. This event aimed to encourage innovative solutions to address air pollution challenges under various themes, sparking creative ideas that consider feasibility and scalability.
As Pune emerges as a trailblazer in implementing clean air solutions, the CABL Pune initiative signifies a significant step towards cleaner air and a healthier future for its citizens.
