<p>Wipro chairman Azim Premji on Tuesday urged Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to anchor a ‘Bengaluru City Air Quality Platform’ that his company is building to tackle air pollution in the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Premji met Kumaraswamy at the Vidhana Soudha, where the two held talks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wipro and the Azim Premji Foundation (APF) are working with other large corporations to put together the air quality platform, which Premji believes can help the government, citizens and other stakeholders to address air pollution that he termed as “a silent killer.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">“I am of the definite view that the success of this effort will completely depend on your government playing the central role. I would like to hear your views and seek your support and leadership in steering this joint effort,” Premji stated in his letter to Kumaraswamy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister appointed additional chief secretary, forest, ecology and environment as the nodal officer for this initiative. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Premji has also offered to engage with the state government to implement ‘zero budget natural farming,’ for which Kumaraswamy has earmarked Rs 50 crore in his budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“My Foundation architected this programme in Andhra Pradesh... we will be happy to work with your government and are keen to immediately explore the possibility of engagement.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy told reporters that he discussed with Premji how the APF can help the government in zero budget farming.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The modalities of the partnership will be worked out and announced in the coming days,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The ‘zero budget natural farming’ initiative has covered over 6 lakh farmers in Andhra Pradesh, the chief minister pointed out.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Premji brought to my notice that work on the 7.5-km stretch of Sarjapur Road was causing inconvenience to people who work there. I’ve asked officials to complete the work in four months,” Kumaraswamy said.</p>
<p>Wipro chairman Azim Premji on Tuesday urged Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to anchor a ‘Bengaluru City Air Quality Platform’ that his company is building to tackle air pollution in the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Premji met Kumaraswamy at the Vidhana Soudha, where the two held talks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wipro and the Azim Premji Foundation (APF) are working with other large corporations to put together the air quality platform, which Premji believes can help the government, citizens and other stakeholders to address air pollution that he termed as “a silent killer.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">“I am of the definite view that the success of this effort will completely depend on your government playing the central role. I would like to hear your views and seek your support and leadership in steering this joint effort,” Premji stated in his letter to Kumaraswamy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister appointed additional chief secretary, forest, ecology and environment as the nodal officer for this initiative. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Premji has also offered to engage with the state government to implement ‘zero budget natural farming,’ for which Kumaraswamy has earmarked Rs 50 crore in his budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“My Foundation architected this programme in Andhra Pradesh... we will be happy to work with your government and are keen to immediately explore the possibility of engagement.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy told reporters that he discussed with Premji how the APF can help the government in zero budget farming.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The modalities of the partnership will be worked out and announced in the coming days,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The ‘zero budget natural farming’ initiative has covered over 6 lakh farmers in Andhra Pradesh, the chief minister pointed out.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Premji brought to my notice that work on the 7.5-km stretch of Sarjapur Road was causing inconvenience to people who work there. I’ve asked officials to complete the work in four months,” Kumaraswamy said.</p>
