Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today launched an initiative to protect the environment by growing pollution reducing plants in the state on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Launching the Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA), the chief minister said the World Environment Day was the "people's day" for doing something for mother Earth and it should not end up as a ceremonial occasion, but produce some concrete results.
Talking about the ongoing water crisis in Shimla, he said pollution and degradation of water catchment areas were the main reasons behind the problem.
Urging students to come forward for environmental conservation, he said 67.5 per cent area of the state was covered with forests, but still a lot more needed to be done.
He said Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to ban use of polythene bags.
"Tourists visiting the state must be sensitized to use jute or paper bags instead of polythene bags," Thakur said.
The chief minister said the government would set up 10 solid waste management plants in different parts of the state for scientific management of waste and polythene shedder machines would be provided for Sundernagar and Ghumarwin towns.
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