Puri will give boost to green economy transition: Ex-UN body chief
Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Jul, 2021 10:51 AM
New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Former UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim on Thursday hailed the elevation of Hardeep Puri as he takes charge of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at a time when India will go through a major transformation to a green economy.
"I know Puri very well. He is a perfect fit for this important portfolio," Solheim told IANS in a message.
"Coming with great international and domestic experience at a time when India will go through a major transformation to a less polluting, green economy. He understands the green shift very well and will prioritise jobs and a people-centred approach. Win-win," he added.
The former Norwegian diplomat, politician and environment minister played a crucial role in 2018 as the UN Environment chief in convincing India to phase out single-use plastics by 2022, a major achievement in his crusade against plastic pollution.
Puri, a former diplomat, said the focus of the ministry under him will be to increase domestic production of crude oil and natural gas and help the country become 'Atmanirbhar'.
He said in line with the vision to create a gas-based economy in the country he would see that its availability and use of clean fuel is encouraged.
Pointing out that most people in Punjab came from Pakistan, Amarinder Singh asked if the Centre expected them to go to Pakistan to look for proof of birth.
A 25-year-old model from Assam who had come to Kanpur to perform at a function, was allegedly raped by former director of a prominent club in the presence of his five aides here, the police said on Tuesday. Four of the accused have been arrested, while the main accused is still on the run.
Ridiculing the Akali chief for his "atrocious lies" that reflected his frustration, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said Sukhbir Badal had clearly lost all sense of proportion in his desperation to get back into the political limelight.
Even as the D-Day approaches, the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case through their lawyers are clutching at all possibilities to apparently delay or stay the execution.
A 20-year-old man, resident of Indiranagar, was shifted to the isolation ward of the King George’s Medical University (KGMU), on Saturday morning after the lab test confirmed the virus.
A woman has been booked for allegedly selling her seven-day-old daughter for Rs 10,000 to a neighbour at Kathghar area of Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh.
