New Delhi: The Delhi government has a new partner to help it in its attempts to improve the national capital’s air quality and check pollution levels. The transport department of the Delhi government and the University of Chicago Trust has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate an evidence-based approach to reduce vehicular pollution in the city.
According to a statement released by the transport department Friday, the move will enable the establishment of a research unit that will help design innovative policy interventions and pilot projects to combat air pollution.
Under the partnership, researchers from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago Trust in India (EPIC India) will assist the transport department to leverage insights from advanced statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data visualisation, use of satellite data, and econometrics, among others, to improve the effectiveness of its existing programmes.
The researchers would work closely with government officials in the transport department to enable knowledge exchange through seminars, workshops, or training sessions and carry out policy evaluation. Additionally, it would also facilitate knowledge exchange and high-quality data analysis.
“We are excited to work closely with the researchers from EPIC India and incorporate the application of research and policy expertise with the foresight to generate new policy initiatives and solutions, alongside a rigorous evaluation of the transport department’s existing programmes,” Ashish Kundra, principal secretary, Delhi government, said in the statement.
Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, acknowledged Delhi’s challenges with the air pollution that attract the “spotlight”.
However, according to him, what needed to be highlighted more was the government’s desire to “test and develop inventive solutions”.
“After having worked with various governments from around the world, including several state governments in India, to advance evidence-based policymaking, EPIC-India is thrilled to contribute to these efforts to combat vehicular pollution and improve Delhi’s air quality,” the professor said in the statement.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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