In a bid to tackle the adverse effects of plastic wastes on the natural environment, the state Directorate of Environment and Climate Change distributed plastic bottle banks under District Environment Plan in compliance with National Green Tribunal directions at its office located at Porompat on Monday.
Addressing the event, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Th Biswajit exhorted the people to follow a plastic-free lifestyle and stressed on the need for collaboration with the locals for collection and recycling of plastic wastes.
“Alarming statistics reveal that our country generates approximately 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste every single day, with a paltry 15,000 tonnes finding their way into the virtuous cycle of recycling. Countable districts of Manipur started approaching the action of free plastic movement,” he said.
He said that concerted actions are required to push towards plastic free living and achieving the targets of plastic recycling and waste plastic collection, he added.
“Nature is giving everything for free. We, humans, are the ones that destroy nature. So, we are the one to protect nature from more destruction by considering our future,” said Biswajit.
Eradicating the scourge of single-use plastics is a collective endeavour that requires not only legislative fortitude but also the active participation of citizens, civil society organisations, he further said, adding, it is only on Mother Earth that human beings can survive.
Environment and Climate Change director T Brajakumar said that due to improper disposal practices it has been quite a challenging task faced by the department in controlling plastic wastes. “Despite these challenges, we have an unwavering determination to make Manipur a trailblazer in achieving a plastic-waste-free status in the country,” he added.
He assured that the department will spare no effort to halt the reckless disposal of plastic waste that inflicts detrimental impacts on the environment. However, without the support and cooperation from society, the mission will be impossible, he said. He further called on the public to actively participate in the segregation of plastic waste in designated areas.
Merely giving away just one cage for disposal of plastic bottles is not the solution; spreading the message of collecting in a cage will be helpful in joining hands towards the mission, he said.
Ukhrul district deputy commissioner Kengoo Zuringla stressed on the importance of disposing wastes in the proper place.
“We are one to clean as we are the ones polluting,” she added.
