Former California Water Commissioner Ashok Bhatt Meets Ahmedabad Municipal Mayor for Discussions on Smart City Initiatives

Former Water Commissioner of California's California, Ashok Bhatt, held discussions with Ahmedabad Municipal Mayor Pratibha Ben Rakesh Kumar Jain on various issues, including Smart City initiatives, water conservation, and waste management. During the meeting, Mayor Jain expressed the priority of enhancing the city's cleanliness system, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Bhatt, known for his expertise, offered valuable suggestions on Smart City development, waste

management, and water conservation to the Municipal Board's delegation.

Mayor Pratibha Ben Jain emphasized the need to organize the city's sanitation system further and expressed a desire to implement sustainable waste disposal practices, drawing inspiration from American models. The discussion also touched upon plans to accelerate the installation of waste-to-energy plants and the deployment of CCTV cameras in various parts of the city under the Smart City initiative. Mayor Jain highlighted the aim to modernize rainwater harvesting techniques for efficient water storage.

Ashok Bhatt extended an invitation to the Municipal Board's delegation for a visit to the United States, particularly to California, to observe and learn from the successful implementation of various initiatives. Bhatt, currently serving as the Chairperson of the Public Utility Commission and California State Water Commissioner, expressed interest in revitalizing the sister city concept between California and Ahmedabad.

Bhatt informed the Mayor that he is optimistic about fruitful outcomes from the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat event in January, where representatives from the United States are expected to collaborate with the Gujarat government. The meeting was attended by senior members of the Ahmedabad Municipal Board, along with Deputy Mayor Ramy Kumar Bhatt.