HP CM launches Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said World Environment Day was an awakening call for individuals to take charge of protecting the environment and to realise the severity of plastic usage in daily life.

Presiding over the State level function to launch Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA) on the occasion of World Environment Day-2018 celebrated at Government Polytechnic College Sundernagar in Mandi, he said World Environment Day was the "people's day" for doing something to take care of the Earth.  

He said World Environment Day should not be a ceremonial occasion, but something concrete must come out from this, adding that 67.5 per cent geographical part of the state was covered with forests, but still lot more needed to be done for effective environment conservation.

Thakur said that polythene was rampantly polluting our water bodies, harming marine life and posing a threat to human health, has been one of the major concerns of environmental bodies this year.  He said Himachal became first state in the country to ban use of polythene bags in the State adding that tourists visiting the State must be sensitized to use jute or paper bags instead of polythene bags.

Emphasising that the water crisis in Shimla town was due to the pollution and degradation of water catchment areas, rivers and water bodies supplying water to the town, he said pollution reducing plants would be developed in State nurseries and provided to the people for plantation.

He said the State Government has asked the Industries Department to prepare a project for setting up unit for pine needles. To conserve environment, he said one steel bottle would be provided to each Government School students in a phased manner to discourage use of plastic bottles under the Mukhiya Mantri Vardi Yojana. He also urged the parents to buy steel bottles for their children instead of plastic bottles to help in environment conservation.

The Chief Minister announced that use of  tharmacol plates and glass would be banned in the State as they were major cause of pollution. Similarly plastic water bottles less than one liter capacity would be banned in the public meetings.  He said that 10 solid waste management plants would be established in different parts of the State for scientific management of waste and a ploytheme shedder machine would be provided for Sundernagar and Ghumarvin town.

Chief Minister also gave prizes to the best eco-clubs of the educational institutions on the occasion for working towards environment conservation.

Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLA Sundernagar Rakesh Jamwal

Additional Chief Secretary Environment, Science and Technology and Chairman State Pollution Control Board, Tarun Kapoor,  Member Secretary State Pollution Control Board Dr R.K. Pruthi, amongst others were present on the occasion.