Adviser launches campaign for ‘Plastic Free Chandigarh’

Chandigarh, September 11:- Sh. Manoj Kumar Parida, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh today launched a campaign for ‘Plastic Free Chandigarh’ under the Swachhata hi Sewa programme, here at central plaza, sector 17, Chandigarh in presence of Sh. Rajesh Kumar, Mayor and Sh. K.K. Yadav, IAS, Commissioner, MCC, Sh. Ravi Kant Sharma, area councilor, other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration and MCC, Councilors, representatives of RWAs, MWAs and other NGOs were also present during the event.

While addressing the stakeholders, the Adviser stressed upon the need to abolish plastic from daily routine life. He said that we must think of technology to abolish plastic usage in the city. He appealed the citizens to adopt ways to reduce plastic usageuse jute and cloth bags in their daily life.

He said that the ban on plastic items cannot be successful without the cooperation of public and sought their help in this endeavor and said that the motive behind the campaign to send the message among masses against the use of plastic and total plastic ban in Chandigarh.

The Adviser launched selfie competition to encourage citizens against the use of plastic in different categories i.e. (a) School Students, (b) College Students, (c) Shopkeepers/Vendors, (d) NGOs/Institutuons, (e) Citizens, (f) Media/News Channels and (g) Photographers (Professional/Media). As per the competition general public can send/upload their selfies to the MCC through social media tools i.e. Facebook page- Plastic Free Chandigarh (@SwachhCityChd), Instagram- prdmccsocialmedia, Twitter- @SwachhCityChd, Linkedin- linkedin.com/in/swachhcitychd and Gmail- prdmccsocialmedia@gmail.comupto 30^th September, 2019 using cloth bags for their routine usage; shopkeepers giving cloth bags to the customers; NGOs/institutions distributing free cloth bags to the public, Media covering encouraging stories in the Newspapers, Photographers clicking best picture during the Plastic Free City campaign. The MCC will give away prizes to the 10 winners selected randomly from each category at the mega event scheduled to be organized on 2^nd October, 2019.

During the programme Sh. Rajesh Kumar, Mayor said that the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh will conduct different awareness programmes besides taking measures to reduce plastic from the city. He said that a mass awareness campaign against the use of plastic under the theme “Plastic Mukt Bharat” would be conducted throughout city. During the campaign different programmes would be conducted in three phases i.e. from 11^th September to 1^st October, 2019 awareness programmes; “Shramdaan” as mass movement on 2^nd October in 2^nd phase and Recycle/disposal of collected plastic waste, leading to a plastic free Diwali programmes from 3^rd October to 27^th October, 2019 in 3^rd Phase, the Mayor said.

Sh. K.K. Yadav, IAS, Commissioner said that the awareness campaigns of MCC would be focused to ensure that all the coming festivals are zero-waste and plastic free events to make “Plastic Free City”. He said that each and every stakeholder of the city will be involved in this campaign. He said that seminars would be organized in schools, colleges and other educational institutions on plastic free Chandigarh. Volunteers of NSS, NCC, Scouts& Guide would be roped in this mass campaign.

The Commissioner said that MCC would identify locations for plastic waste collection and segregation; to plan transportation & logistic of plastic to collection hub; to integrate in formal rag pickers, junk dealers, recyclers into the formal waste management system; to set up adequate number of material recovery facilities to handle recyclable/processing of plastic waste and incentivize citizens to deposit plastic waste at ULB-authorized collection centres.

He said that mass level programmes would be conducted on 2^nd October to take pledge for a plastic waste free city and organize “Shramdaan” for plastic waste collection in order to make Chandigarh plastic free. One day of every month will be earmarked as “Plastic Free day” in Chandigarh.

The Adviser, Mayor & Commissioner also started signature campaign against the use of plastic in the city. In addition to that a display van has also been flagged off by the Adviser, which will roam throughout city to encourage citizens about not to use plastic items.

Earlier, the Adviser, Mayor, Commissioner, officers & officials of MCC, representatives of NGOs, College Students, and representatives of Resident Welfare Associations took an oath against use of plastic. Nukkarnataks, flash mob, magic show, live band show and other fun & frolic games to involve general public against the use of plastic were also staged by different professional groups and college students. The Adviser, Mayor and Commissioner distributed cloth bags to public and also told people not to use plastic bags and handed over cloth bags.