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.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said his government will not implement the CAA in Punjab and that the Congress will continue to fight it “tooth and nail”.
Indian Army''s outgoing chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, was Monday appointed India''s first Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the principal military adviser to Defence Minister and head of the new Department of Military Affairs.
According to the police complaint, six robbers travelling in a car intercepted the truck near Muthani diversion on the GT Road, now known as National Highway-2, around 10.30 pm on Thursday and held the driver, Desh Raj, captive at gunpoint
In a display of communal harmony, a group of Hindu boys in Uttar Pradesh’'s Kanpur city formed a human chain around a Muslim man’s “baraat” to safely escort them to their destination.
