Dehradun : Single use plastic is the most harmful. Special efforts should be made to stop its use: Chief Secretary

Dehradun : Chief Secretary Dr. S.S. Sandhu held a meeting in the Secretariat on Friday regarding the Special Task Force constituted to stop the use of single-use plastic. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that plastic is very dangerous for the environment, out of which single use plastic is the most harmful. Special efforts should be made to prevent its use. For this, along with spreading awareness among the general public, he also talked about taking some special steps.

Chief Secretary said that maximum awareness should be spread to stop the use of single use plastic. He said that due to lack of knowledge of single use plastic among the traders, efforts to stop it are less successful. He said that information should be communicated through short video clips on which plastics are banned and which are not. Along with this, information about the ban and more harmful plastic should be made available to the traders and the general public through the website and social media. The side effects of this should also be shown through photo-video.

The Chief Secretary directed that to stop the use of plastic, alternatives to plastic should be promoted. He directed that a study should be conducted on what could be the alternatives of plastic, so that its alternatives could be promoted by giving subsidy. He also directed to prepare a plan to promote the alternative of plastic. He said that this scheme should be promoted through subsidy, so that its alternatives can be encouraged to join the business, and it does not affect the employment of people associated with the plastic business. He also explored the possibilities of using jute bags for plants in the nursery of the forest department.

Additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan and Secretary Amit Negi along with high officials of the concerned departments were present on the occasion.