Single-use plastics have become a curse to human civilisation. Not only does the environment get polluted due to the negative effects of plastic, but it also affects our bodies.

Therefore, public awareness must be generated upon stopping the usage of plastics to ensure sustainability on Earth, enunciated Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha after launching ‘Plastic Mukta Tripura Abhijan,’ an initiative for the elimination of single-use plastic items organized at Agartala Town Hall today by Tripura Pollution Control Board under Science, Technology and Environment department. This month-long the programme will continue till August 14.

Chief Minister said we must keep our environment safe. Every aware citizen ought to keep their house as well as the surroundings clean. The Chief Minister called upon all the citizens to take responsibility for keeping their area clean and to throw waste at a particular place instead of throwing elsewhere. He said a single-use plastic consists of about 13 thousand chemicals in it. Among these, about 3200 chemicals are harmful to the human body. As a result of using such plastics, different kinds of diseases arise in the human body.

Chief Minister emphasised publicising hugely on stopping the use of plastics. He said public-awareness-based programmes must be taken up on the negative effects of using plastic in schools, colleges, villages, etc. across the state. All citizens must come forward to take responsibility for building Plastic-free Tripura.

He also emphasized keeping all schools, colleges, and office buildings of the state clean. He said that Prime Minister’s call to build a single-use plastic-free India must be delivered across the state through public awareness. The Chief Minister hoped for everyone’s cooperation in establishing a plastic-free Tripura.

Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, in the inaugural programme said Tripura is the only state in the entire country that never had to face negative comments in National Green Tribunal Forum or had to pay a fine. It is because of the workers involved with local autonomous bodies of the state, including the AMC.

The Chief Secretary called upon everyone to buy environment-friendly alternatives to plastics made by women involved with Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission.