In order to push the efforts taken by the State Pollution Control Board to control indiscriminate uses of polythene carry bags across Jharkhand, the Government has gone on setting a deadline in this regard.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das on the World Environment Day on Tuesday called upon common citizens to join hands with authorities to achieve the goal while promoting eco-friendly products such as bamboo, leaves and grasses etc intrinsic to the State.
“The menace of plastic has engulfed our villages as well. People use it and throw which causes pollutions of all kind. We all need to treat earth like our mother and serve it like son. I, on this occasion, invite one and all to take a pledge to stop using plastic in six months and make Jharkhand plastic free completely when we meet next year on this day,” said the CM revealing the idea of ‘new Jharkhand’.
The CM used the occasion to play out some of the measures to be taken by the Government on the pollution control front. “As per an estimate 24 tonnes of plastic garbage is generated in the State daily which we send outside for recycling. The Government is working in this direction. Plastic recycling plant would be set up here. Also, we are in the process of making a policy for compulsory uses of polluted water into power plants of the State which would lessen the need of fresh water considerably besides, handling the effluents. The Government would soon take a decision in this regard,” added the CM.
Underlining nature-friendly lifestyles of the people of the State keeping ‘jal-jungle and zameen’ at their centrestage, the CM also linked those with evolving a ‘green economy’. “We also need to work for a Jharkhand with green economy.
We have plenty of natural resources like bamboo, grasses etc and employing women and tribals in making array of products and artifacts would help us in doubling their income. The Government has gone on opening local haats at block levels and tourist places to provide their products a marketing platform,” said the CM.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated five campaigns to make public places, wet zones, parks under the Jhar Park and protected areas free from plastic. A campaign on PPP mode started for forest based sustainable rural development. Four MoUs were also signed between industries and joint forest management committees in order to promote forest produce and forest economy. The CM also rewarded institutions and individuals in controlling pollution and control were also rewarded. A book and souvenir on biodiversity was also released.
On the occasion Kanke MlA Jeetu Charan Ram, Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathi, Additional Chief Secretary Forest Environment and Climate Change Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Kumar, Chief Forest Conservator (Wildlife) lR Singh, Chairperson of State Pollution Board AK Pandey, Secretary State Pollution Board Rl Bakshi, representatives of Joint Forest Management Committees, industry and volunteers in large number were present.