Campaign to make Puri polythene-free launched

Puri: A people’s campaign to make Puri as a polythene-free iconic place was launched here on Sunday.

“The entire world is struggling hard to beat the hazards of polythene and plastics on the environment and human health. In such a scenario, concerted effort, both at the individual and institutional levels is the need of the time,” said NALCO CMD Tapan Kumar Chand.

He said NALCO as a responsible corporate citizen has planned to hand over the paper and cloth bags and aluminium foil packs as a substitute to polythenes to Puri district administration.

“This initiative would be a part of the Rs.160 crore project being carried out by the company to develop and promote Puri as a Swachh Iconic Shrine,” informed Chand.

He said this while inaugurating the National Symposium on ‘Polythene Environment & Human Health’, organized by the socio-cultural organization Nirmalya, in association with R.S.K.S. (D.U.), Sadashiva Campus at Puri.

As the Chairman of CII, Odisha Chand urged the industries to come forward to extend their support in this campaign.

The NALCO CMD expressed concern over the adverse impacts of the excessive usage of polythenes and plastics.

“Single-use plastic bags pose a global threat to the environment with over 1 trillion plastic bags used and disposed of each year. Plastic overwhelms landfills, clogs gutters and poses a risk to the environment, animals and human health when improperly disposed of. To counter such issues, we need to go back to the age-old processes of packaging like the paper packaging and cloth or jute bags,” said Dr Chand.

“The Government has already come forward to impose a restriction on the usage of polythenes and plastic. There is a need to spread awareness regarding this. NALCO has already taken several steps in this line. The company has imposed a restriction on usage of plastic bags in its premises.”

“Also, as part its association with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the company has prepared a music video ‘Amritam Gamaya’, which spreads the message against usage of polythenes and plastics,” informed Chand.