Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said environment conservation was the need of the hour for very existence of the humanity.

After the launch of week-long ‘Polythene Hatao, ParyavaranBachao’ campaign, he said pollution caused by plastic was a matter of concern for the whole world.

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“The situation in developed nations is more alarming as they use more plastic than the other countries, thereby making plastic waste management a big challenge for them also,” he said.

Thakur said the plastic being a non-biodegradable waste was a biggest health hazard for humans and animals, besides causing environmental degradation.

“The then BJP Government way back on 2nd October 2009 has banned use of plastic bags in the state, but still many products such as milk, chips, bread etc come in plastic packing, thus making it essential to launch special campaigns regularly to save our environment from this menace,” he said.

He said the state government was starting projects to produce energy from plastic waste. One such plant has been established at Shimla and two more plants were being established at Kullu and Baddi, he added.

The Chief Minister said that polythene not only is a health hazard but it also pollute, soil, water and air. Thus, it becomes duty of every citizen to come forward to check this vice to save our mother earth and our very existence.

“The tourists visiting the state must also be sensitised about the ill effects of plastic and must be persuaded to use jute or paper bags instead of polythene bags,” he said.

He also urged the MahilaMandals, YuvakMandals and other NGOs to launch special campaigns to collect polythene and ensure its proper disposal in their respective areas.

Chief Minister also administered oath for ‘Environment Conservation’ on the occasion. He flagged off eleven batches of volunteers for eleven different routes, covering almost all the areas of the city for collecting polythene waste.

Director Environment, Science and Technology D C Rana said the students and other volunteers would gather plastic waste from the respective areas allotted to them and the same would be collected by the Municipal Corporation workers for scientific dispose of this waste.