Call to make 100% plastic-free

Tirupati: Participating as a chief guest for the one-day workshop organised by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) on ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ at Srinivasa Auditorium on the premises of the Sri Venkateswara University here on Thursday, Industries Minister N Amaranatha Reddy gave a call to residents and devotees for making pilgrim city cent per cent free from plastic pollution by October 2. 

Addressing the students and various industry representatives, the Minister said that it is the collective responsibility of everyone for implementation of plastic ban in Tirupati. He directed the civic body officials to launch a campaign for creating awareness among residents against the usage of carry bags, cups, plates and other material made up of plastic.

“Human beings can survive on earth with ecological balance,” the Minister stated and added extensive usage of plastic will create ecological imbalance. He exhorted the participants of the workshop to give priority for protection of environment. Reddy advised city residents to plant saplings and take care of them till they grow as trees.

“On the instructions of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Commissioner Vijaya Rama Raju and civic body officials have been striving for effective implementation of the plastic ban for transforming the temple city as a green city,” the Minister said. APPCB Chairman BSS Prasad advised residents to discard the plastic usage and use alternatives wherever it is possible.

“Plastic must be used only when there is an absolute need,” he added. Prasad has mentioned that plastic has caused floods in Chennai city in the last year’s rainy season. Vivek Yadav, member secretary of the APPCB has informed that the APPCB would organise plastic pollution awareness meetings in schools and colleges across the state.

On the occasion, the APPCB officials freely distributed 2,000 cloth bags to the participants of the workshop. After the workshop, the Minister visited the plastic recycling usage exhibits which were set up by the various industries. In the meeting, Tirupati MLA Suguna, TUDA Chairman Narasimha Yadav, Punganur Municipal Commissioner KL Varma and local APPCB officials and large number of residents took part.