Odisha seeks Chicago University expertise to improve energy efficiency

The Odisha government has decided to seek technical expertise from the University of Chicago to improve energy efficiency and pollution control, said an official on Wednesday.

The government has decided to have a partnership with the University of Chicago, India Center. A high-level meeting to this effect was held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here.

"The government is working on pollution control and energy saving measures for some years. We would like to have an independent study of the approaches adopted so far by the state and bring in international practices for making those more effective at the field level," said Padhi.

Development commissioner R. Balakrishnan said, "We are holding preliminary talks with India Center of the University. The state will gain from their worldwide knowledge and expertise on monitoring of pollution control and improve energy efficiency in the state."

The areas of collaboration in the matters of training and capacity building are also being explored with the team, added Balakrishnan.

Country Director of Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), Anant Sudarshan said the objective of EPIC is to bring economic research to the forefront of solving energy and environment challenges.

EPIC would like to have a collaboration with state government and Pollution Control Board to bring about qualitative as well as quantitative improvement in the initiatives of the state, he added.

--IANS

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