Lucknow: The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) executive committee on Monday approved measures to strengthen air quality monitoring and curb pollution across the city.Chaired by mayor Sushma Kharkwal, the committee cleared a proposal to install 149 low-cost air quality sensors under an agreement with the Airavat Research Foundation. The sensors will track pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10. An AI-based platform will analyse real-time data, identify pollution hotspots, generate ward-wise air quality reports and provide forecasts up to 72 hours in advance. The project will not require any financial contribution from the civic body.Fee hike in LMC-run schoolsThe committee also approved converting Aminabad Inter College into a co-educational institution. It revised fees in municipal schools to Rs 100 per month for primary classes and Rs 250 per month for students above Class VI at schools in Kashmiri Mohalla, Aminabad and Hazratganj. Monthly fees at Children Palace School was increased from Rs 250 to Rs 500.House tax rebateTo encourage timely tax payment, the committee approved a 5% rebate on house tax paid by Jul 31 through online or offline modes. A similar rebate will apply to lump-sum payment of user charges. The mayor also distributed point-of-sale (POS) machines to zonal officers for on-the-spot collection of penalties for encroachments, littering and use of banned single-use plastic.LDA’S commercial projects to be taxedThe committee approved levying municipal user fees and taxes on commercial activities conducted in parks and other public spaces owned by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). It also approved licence fees for warehouses operated by e-commerce firms and other companies within city limits, subject to approval of the required by-laws by the municipal house.Legacy wasteThe civic body approved scientific disposal of about 4.21 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste at the Shivri processing plant through bioremediation at an estimated cost of Rs 26.6 crore. The project will be funded through municipal resources or finance commission grants.Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar said the projects would be implemented in phases with emphasis on timely execution and accountability. These decisions will be put before LMC House later for final approval.
