**Bhubaneswar: ** In his noble initiative of ‘Ama Mukhya Mantri Ama Katha’ (Our Chief Minister Our Talks), Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday (July 10) issued order to all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) imposing a ban on the use of plastic in the State from October 2 Gandhi Jayanti Day. He also stressed upon making Odisha a completely plastic-free State within the next two years.
In his mass message through video conference with the public, the Chief Minister also exhorted the people that each one should be keen on planting one tree sapling to keep our environment healthy and maintain ecological balance so that our present generation and posterity live a safe and sound life.
During his ‘Ama Mukhya Mantri Ama Katha’ programme at the State Secretariat, the Odisha Chief Minister said, “Plastic is a danger to our environment, our future generation and civilization. Hence, I have taken a decision to absolutely ban plastic from Odisha. In the first phase, plastic will be banned at all Municipal Corporations and Puri from October 2. Gradually, it will be abolished from Odisha within the next two years.”
Following such an order, use of plastic bag, polythene and single use plastic items will be imposed a blanket ban in Odisha.
While the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department has been entrusted with task of enforcing it in the urban areas, the Panchayati Raj (PR) Department will enforce it in the rural areas. Forest and Environment Department will monitor the controlling of plastic pollution in the whole State.
Laying utmost stress on the environmental safety, the Chief Minister said, “Tree is a part and parcel of our culture. All know very well about the importance of tree for the living beings. Hence, each one should plant one tree sapling in this ongoing rainy season and take care of it like one’s family member. If tree lives, the environment will live well. If our environment is healthy, we can work well for our family and society. As for the last few years the volume of forests in our State is growing and is ahead of the national average, credit goes to one and all. Accordingly, all should come forth and expected to cooperate in making the plastic ban a success.”
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