Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, flagged off the campaign ‘Meri Life, Mera Swachh Shehar’ and administered the oath to the students and others of mission Life for preservation of environment. With the aim to beat plastic pollution, students, municipal workers, cyclists, and environmentalists started a campaign in the north Indian hill town of Shimla.
The students are enthusiastic to be a part of the campaign, Reiterating the importance of reducing plastic waste and preserving the environment Parvik Kukreja, a local student and participant said we as youth can be the messengers to spread awareness and make people aware of the need to reduce plastic waste.
We as youth can be the messengers to spread awareness in the region. We want to spread the message and make people aware of the need to reduce plastic waste. We are cycling as it could be the means of transportation in the hills, and we can preserve the environment, said Parvik Kukreja, a local student and participant.
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These cyclists, representing the healing Himalaya group, are happy to be part of cycling on Environment Day in the region.
Plastic pollution is becoming a major threat to our Himalayan region. Through this cycling campaign, we are trying to make people aware of the need to reduce the use of plastic waste. This cycling is being done with the support of hilling the Himalayas and we want everyone to realize that we should keep our Himalayas clean and green for everyone, said another cyclist, Aditya.
The mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation said that the Municipal Corporation has planned programs to make Shimla a green and clean city. Awareness is one of the most important parts of that.
We have over 100 workers today taking part in the campaign, and we have divided the city into five major zones. We collect 80 tons of garbage on a daily basis; we will also start a plantation drive and adopt one zone. All 40 councilors of Shimla MC will participate in it. We would try to give a Bio- degradable bag to those who come from outstate, the plastic packs will be collected in it, said Surender Chauhan, Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation.
The students are enthusiastic to be part of the campaign and are demanding that it be made a daily practice and part of education in the region.
I am glad and thankful to the government for taking this initiative; this is good for the environment. It should be made a daily practice in the schools so that plastic waste is taken away and awareness is spread, said Amreen Kaur, a student.
Environmentalists are concerned about the plastic waste and pollution in the Himalayan region. One of the environmentalists working in the Himalayan region said that everyone will have to understand.
Solid waste management is an issue that has not been prioritized; we don’t have any zero-waste villages, communities, or schools. We need to create those schools.
Decentralizing waste management should be one of those priorities. We did the same initially. We started with cleaning up the track routes, just like a temple, hospital, or school. We need to create waste management centers. Let’s not stick to World Environment Day to highlight plastic pollution; every day is World Environment Day to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas. We must do it on a daily basis to make it a lifestyle, and mission life also focuses on it. Also, I would like to say that we should stop littering,” said Pradeep Sangwan, an environmentalist.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh aims to be the first green state in the country.
This year, in our first budget, we have made provisions to make Himachal Pradesh a green state. It is important to beat the plastic pollution that we have already taken to ban polyphone bags and later on. The objective is not only to increase the fine, but it is also important to make people aware of it and make it a routine and part of life, said Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla visited the CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University in Palampur on the occasion of World Environment Day and planted a sapling of rudraksh here, a statement said.
The governor urged the students at the university to actively participate in tree plantation activities and contribute to the protection of the environment, it said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. H.K. Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal, Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Shalini Agnihotri, and other dignitaries were also present during the plantation.
Earlier, Governor Shukla visited Kangra for a two-day stay in the district. He paid a visit to the residence of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar at Yamini Complex and had a courtesy meeting with him, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal, on Monday initiated the ‘Plastic Free Temple’ project from Shri Chamunda Mata Mandir on the occasion of World Environment Day to replace plastic flowers with real flowers in temples, the statement said.
Jindal also inaugurated a flower nursery and cultivation project at Sri Chamunda Nandikeruvar Dham near Dharamshala, it said. During the event, he planted Tikoma (bell flower) saplings and started a marigold flower nursery in the temple premises, it added.
The project aims to replace plastic flowers with real flowers in temples and gradually implement it in all major temples of the district, the statement said.
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Meanwhile, governor Shiv Pratap Shukla visited the CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University in Palampur on the occasion and planted a sapling of rudraksh here, a statement said. The governor urged the students at the university to actively participate in tree plantation activities and contribute to the protection of the environment, it said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. H.K. Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal, Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Shalini Agnihotri, and other dignitaries were also present during the plantation.
Earlier, Governor Shukla visited Kangra for a two-day stay in the district. He paid a visit to the residence of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar at Yamini Complex and had a courtesy meeting with him, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal, on Monday initiated the ‘Plastic Free Temple’ project from Shri Chamunda Mata Mandir on the occasion of World Environment Day to replace plastic flowers with real flowers in temples, the statement said.
Jindal also inaugurated a flower nursery and cultivation project at Sri Chamunda Nandikeruvar Dham near Dharamshala, it said. During the event, he planted Tikoma (bell flower) saplings and started a marigold flower nursery in the temple premises, it added.
The project aims to replace plastic flowers with real flowers in temples and gradually implement it in all major temples of the district, the statement said.
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CM Sukhu announced that the state will develop a policy aimed at discovering alternative options to plastic. Within a year, the state plans to create this policy and encourage industries to explore substitutes for plastic.
During a state-level event on World Environment Day, CM Sukhu expressed the intention to eventually impose a “comprehensive ban on plastic usage”.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of utilizing plastic waste in road building and suggested incorporating culture and environment-focused subjects into the educational curriculum to foster environmental consciousness among children, according to an official statement.
The Government is actively seeking alternatives to boost and preserve the environment said the Chief Minister, and urged people to cooperate with the government’s efforts in environmental protection and reducing pollution.
CM Sukhu highlighted the impacts of climate change, such as changing weather patterns and increasing water crisis across the country, which, he said, is evident from the fact that many States were demanding extra water from Himachal.
The Chief Minister shed light on the first budget while emphasizing his dedication to shaping a greener future for Himachal Pradesh. He said that to address environmental issues, the State Government has presented a green budget, allocating funds for renewable energy initiative besides focusing on combating single-use of plastic.
Within the next three years, government vehicles will be gradually replaced by electric vehicles, and the State is actively promoting the production of solar and wind energy, the Chief Minister said.
To support eco-friendly transportation, the State Government is offering a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of e-buses, e-trucks, and e-taxis. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the income of individuals engaged in the transportation sector, he added.
Himachal Pradesh is taking the lead in establishing green corridors thereby becoming the first State in the country to do so and infrastructure development is underway for this purpose, said authorities. The Government is also focusing on the production of green hydrogen due to which positive outcomes were expected in the near future. The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to transform Himachal Pradesh into a Green Energy State by March 31, 2026.
Highlighting the State’s efforts in promoting green energy, the Chief Minister urged the Central Government to increase the State’s share in hydro power projects. He said that Himachal Pradesh is committed to its role as a pioneer in sustainable energy initiatives.
In support of environmental conservation, the Chief Minister distributed 9 Dona-Pattal machines to women self-help groups and provided solar lights to 20 Ekal Naris (single women) as a mean of promoting sustainable practices. He also released the batch and poster of ‘Mission Life.’
As a symbol of promoting environmental awareness, the Chief Minister was presented a jacket made from recycled plastic waste.
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CM Sukhu also announced that the state will also develop a policy aimed at discovering alternative options to plastic. Within a year, the state plans to create this policy and encourage industries to explore substitutes for plastic. He expressed the intention to eventually impose a “comprehensive ban on plastic usage”.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of utilizing plastic waste in road building and suggested incorporating culture and environment-focused subjects into the educational curriculum to foster environmental consciousness among children, according to an official statement.
The Government is actively seeking alternatives to boost and preserve the environment said the Chief Minister, and urged people to cooperate with the government’s efforts in environmental protection and reducing pollution.
CM Sukhu highlighted the impacts of climate change, such as changing weather patterns and increasing water crisis across the country, which, he said, is evident from the fact that many States were demanding extra water from Himachal.
The Chief Minister shed light on the first budget while emphasizing his dedication to shaping a greener future for Himachal Pradesh. He said that to address environmental issues, the State Government has presented a green budget, allocating funds for renewable energy initiative besides focusing on combating single-use of plastic.
Within the next three years, government vehicles will be gradually replaced by electric vehicles, and the State is actively promoting the production of solar and wind energy, the Chief Minister said.
To support eco-friendly transportation, the State Government is offering a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of e-buses, e-trucks, and e-taxis. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the income of individuals engaged in the transportation sector, he added.
Himachal Pradesh is taking the lead in establishing green corridors thereby becoming the first State in the country to do so and infrastructure development is underway for this purpose, said authorities. The Government is also focusing on the production of green hydrogen due to which positive outcomes were expected in the near future. The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to transform Himachal Pradesh into a Green Energy State by March 31, 2026.
Highlighting the State’s efforts in promoting green energy, the Chief Minister urged the Central Government to increase the State’s share in hydro power projects. He said that Himachal Pradesh is committed to its role as a pioneer in sustainable energy initiatives.
In support of environmental conservation, the Chief Minister distributed 9 Dona-Pattal machines to women self-help groups and provided solar lights to 20 Ekal Naris (single women) as a mean of promoting sustainable practices. He also released the batch and poster of ‘Mission Life.’
As a symbol of promoting environmental awareness, the Chief Minister was presented a jacket made from recycled plastic waste.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
