All higher education institutions in the State would be plastic-free as the use of polythene and plastic materials would be completely banned in premises of the universities and colleges.
Intensifying the Swachhta Hi Seva movement to make the entire country plastic-free, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has asked all the States, including Odisha, to issue the guidelines to the higher education institutions so that they can make alternative arrangements.
The authorities have been asked to implement the guidelines soon in the colleges and universities. They have also been asked to take action against the officials and students for failing to follow the rule after creating awareness in the premises.
In the directive issued by the UGC, the educational institutions have been asked to ban use of plastic materials in canteens, shopping complexes and hostels and replace plastic water bottles. The authorities would encourage the employees and students to pick up plastic waste in their surroundings and bring those to a central location in the institution.
As per the guidelines, the collected wastes must be disposed of so that the materials could be used for recycling or industry sector.
The State has been asked to systematically ban use of plastic materials and replace them with environment-friendly objects.
