Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said a policy will be made to find alternatives to plastics within a year and industries will also be encouraged to find substitutes for plastics.
Sukhu, who was presiding over a state-wide function here on the occasion of World Environment Day, said that gradually thereafter the state government would enforce a complete ban on the use of plastic.
Emphasizing the use of plastic waste in road construction, he also called for the inclusion of cultural and ecologically oriented courses in the educational curriculum to promote environmental awareness among children, an official statement said.
The Chief Minister said his determination to shape a greener future for Himachal Pradesh was seen in the first green budget, which laid emphasis on addressing environmental issues.
In addition to the focus on combating single-use plastics, funds have been allocated to renewable energy initiatives and government vehicles will be gradually replaced by electric vehicles over the next three years, he added.
Himachal Pradesh is taking the lead in setting up green corridors, becoming the first state in the country to do so, and infrastructure development is underway for the purpose, he said.
According to the statement, the government is also focusing on the production of green hydrogen. The chief minister said a target has been set to transform Himachal Pradesh into a “green energy state” by March 31, 2026.
At the event, Sukh was presented with a jacket made from recycled plastic waste as a symbol to promote environmental awareness, the company said.
