Govt declares all protected areas ‘plastic free zones’

India will host the World Environment Day this year

Ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, the environment ministry has banned plastics in all protected areas around the country, thus declaring them “plastic free zones”.

Domestic waste discharged by slums along creek areas along the northern end of Mumbai. (HT File Photo)

It has directed states and Union territories to organise awareness campaigns to sensitise people about the issue.

“@moefcc bans plastic in any form in all protected areas and declare them ‘Plastic Free Zones’ ahead of #WorldEnvironmentDay2018,” Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted tonight.

“Directs states & UTs to organise awareness campaigns to sensitise people. Protected areas in Bengal and Odisha are already plastic free zones,” he said.

India will host the World Environment Day this year.

United Nations environment chief Erik Solheim was in the country recently wherein he signed a letter of intent on India hosting the World Environment Day.

Elaborating about the move, environment secretary C K Mishra said all protected areas and forest reserves will be plastic free zones and it will be mandatorily enforced.

“Non-recyclable plastics have been banned. Various steps will be taken so that plastic is not allowed inside the protected areas,” he said.

The official added that other alternatives to plastics would be provided gradually.