Morung Express News
Kohima | June 5
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today appealed the citizens of Nagaland to commit for a Plastic Free Nagaland by banning the use of plastic in the State within 6 months. Speaking in the context of the UN’s theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ at the commemoration of World Environment Day, Rio shared the idea of a Plastic Free Nagaland by December 1, 2018, by urging the citizens to have an action plan and ensure the use of alternatives like jute bags, cloth bags, bamboo cutlery that enables a clean environment. Rio also requested the Chief Secretary to set up a task force to achieve this goal. Organised by the Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change at the NBCC Convention Hall, the commemoration was attended by students from various schools in Kohima, and officials from the varied government departments.
“Together we can make a difference and once we decide reducing the use of plastics, we will contribute to protecting our environment for our future and a better tomorrow,” stated Rio who especially appealed the business community to join in this commitment and extend their active support and cooperation.
Rio also mentioned that with the launching of the Swachh Bharat campaign with the objective of making India Open Defecation Free by October 2, 2019, Nagaland has also committed to be Open Defecation Free by October 2, 2018, one year ahead of the National target.
“In our manifesto we had promised to launch a campaign ‘Clean and Green Nagaland’ within three months. Accordingly we are committed to planting trees for a Green Nagaland. On this Environment Day, as we also celebrate 48 months of NDA Government in Delhi, we have resolved to plant a minimum of 48000 saplings in a campaign mode in the next one week,” announced Rio urging the community, the youth and the people of the State to join the campaign and plant more trees for a Green Nagaland. Each 11 districts and Noklak will be planting a minimum of 4000 saplings to ensure that the goal of 48000 saplings is reached. “The dream of a clean and green Nagaland will be a reality only with active participation of everyone,” added Rio.
Plastic has become a menace in Nagaland too, especially in Kohima, Dimapur and district headquarters. It leads to choking of drains and gutters that causes flooding as well as makes it a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.
Burning of plastic also results in release of toxic. Given the challenges plastic pose, we need to look at what all we can do to beat the plastic.
One simplest thing that we can do is to stop using plastic bags and instead take reusable cloth bags for shopping. We should seriously consider banning all other plastic bags that we use for shopping vegetables etc.
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change CM Chang stated that the celebration of the day is a call to action for everyone to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. “The theme invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on human, animals, waterways and oceans and the environment,” said Chang who suggested ways to stop plastic pollution by scaling up the adoption of reusable plastic packaging, establishing a global plastic protocol, create a viable market for recycled plastic to improve waste collection, sorting and reprocessing and adopt the three Rs that is Reduce, reuse and recycle.
The Department also organised a ‘Green March’ where 1800 students from 31 schools participated marching from Secretariat Junction till the NBCC Convention Hall.
Other highlight of the programme included short play by Dreamz Unlimited and Green Pledge was read out by the Speaker Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Vikho-o Yhoshu. CM felicitated the winners of the state level Poster competition for school students below standard X. Winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd position were bagged by Marnungba, class IX, Town Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung, Pipito Awomi, Class X, Holy Family Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Atuna Shikhu, Class X, North field, Kohima.
Departmental Book was released by the Chief Minister followed by the inauguration of photo exhibition. All the participants were given a tree sapling to commemorate the World Environment Day.
