New Delhi: India, the global host country for 45th World Environment Day celebrations on Tuesday pledged to eliminate all single-use plastics – carry bags, straws, and water bottles among others from the country by 2022. “We make a solemn pledge that we will eliminate all single-use plastics from our beautiful country,” said Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Also Read: World Environment Day 2018 – PM Narendra Modi Addresses The Nation: Top 10 Highlights
On the historic #WED2018 occasion, I #pledged to eliminate all #SingleUsePlastics from the face of India by 2022. The India that @narendramodi envisions #NewIndia2022 shall be free of single use plastics @ErikSolheim @UNEnvironment @PMOIndia @BJP4India @moefcc pic.twitter.com/0N69NDdAky
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 5, 2018
Also Read: Here’s What India Is Doing To Beat Plastic Pollution: Top Highlights
“This India of our dreams (New India) will be single-use plastic free,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan. The minister also pledged to completely do away with single-use plastic from his life. The minister further adds,
To beat plastic pollution, we need an out-of-the-box approach to designing, producing, using and managing plastic products through solutions that lead to Green Good Behaviour.
To #BeatPlasticPollution, we need out-of-box solutions that lead to #GreenGoodBehaviour. We have framed comprehensive #PlasticAndSolidWasteManagement Rules, which addresses all concerns related to plastics. @PMOIndia, @ErikSolheim, @moefcc, @WED2018India pic.twitter.com/o2WvfdwBzL
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 5, 2018
Sharing the statistics of plastic waste generation in the world, Dr Harsh Vardhan said,
Plastic packaging accounts for around 50 per cent of all plastic waste generated globally, much of which is single-use. The global plastic production is projected to nearly double within a short period of time. Eliminating single-use plastic, both from design chains to our consumer habits is a critical first step to beat plastic pollution.
Watch: World Environment Day 2018: India Celebrates In Its Own Way
Eliminating #SingleUsePlastic, both from design chains to our consumer habits is crucial to beat #PlasticPollution. Once in environment, it don’t degrade easily & eventually find its way into our food chain. @PMOIndia, @ErikSolheim, @moefcc, @WED2018India pic.twitter.com/1fateuYEsW
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 5, 2018
Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that the onus to ensure plastics are degradable, recyclable or just reusable is on the industry as part of their ‘Green Corporate Responsibility’.
The minister signs off by saying,
We join the United Nations in appealing to the governments, industry, communities, and individuals globally to come together and explore sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. These single-use plastics are polluting our land and oceans, endangering marine life and impacting human health adversely.
Along with this declaration, India made another important green announcement – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday also signed UN Environment Clean Seas campaign that was launched in February 2017 to fight marine plastic litter.
India PM @narendramodi signs up to UN Environment's #CleanSeas campaign.
Huge commitment and amazing global environmental leadership from India this #WorldEnvironmentDay! pic.twitter.com/PpAcIzSIoF— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) June 5, 2018
Through these initiatives, India wants to send a strong message to the global community which is already threatened by the plastic menace.
N.R.Jothi Narayanan
June 11, 2018 at 6:02 am
If any state declares that the state is ‘open defecation free’,it is the success of the first phase and the beginning of the second phase of the Health Awareness programme. The responsibility to implement the elements of the second phase mainly rests with the users of the toilet. viz: 1)Ensure the toilets are maintained properly.2)Ensure the toilets are cleaned after every use since it shouldn’t become a source of breeding ground for microbes and insects.3)Every user has to ensure that the toilet is his/her property and not the property of none since it is provided by the government. The cleanliness of the private and public toilets is the yardstick to measure the Health & Hygiene of the citizens of a nation.Our motto: Impart awareness on Hygiene. Implement Measures to lead a Healthy Life.