In a bid to reduce carbon emissions for making the state greener and healthier, the Punjab Government on Sunday announced to impose ban on single used plastic from coming July.During a virtual state-level function to mark World Environment Day 2022, Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment Rahul Tewari announced the decision of the state government for protecting the environment in the state. He said that ban on single used plastic will be imposed from July 2022 onwards to make Punjab greener and healthier.
Rahul Tewari said that the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free by walking on the path shown by our revered Guru Sahibs.Announcing to set up 55 STPs across the state, the Secretary informed that these ultra-modern plants will reduce water pollution level to certain extent as well as using the treated water for cultivation and other allied activities.
Speaking about initiatives of state government to convert Fossil Fuel based Industrial Units into Natural Gas based units, he mentioned that the state government has started online monitoring of industrial units by installing state of the art meters in industrial units as well as Online Monitoring Stations to check water and air pollution level. Setting up the target of planting 1.20 crore saplings this year, Rahul Tewari said that the state was ready with Climate Action Plan 2.0 to reduce carbon emissions.
In another path breaking initiative, the Secretary announced to institutionalise Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab state environment award for outstanding contribution Towards environment protection and conservation of pression precious natural resources of the state. He said that this award will be a recognition to the outstanding hard work made by individuals/organizations for the preservation of natural resources.
Rahul Tewari said that this award will be named after Great son of the soil and Legendary martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the emancipation of the country from clutches of foreign imperialism.On this occasion Common, the Secretary also dedicated 50 MLDS capacity Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Ludhiana and Gallery of Pushpa Gujral Science City to showcase salient features of Tandrust Punjab Mission, to the people of state.
He also released Coffee Table Book on ‘Threatened Flora and Fauna of Punjab’ jointly published by Punjab Biodiversity Board and Punjab State Council for Science & Technology. Mission Tandrust Punjab Action Plan for Financial Year 2022-23 prepared by Society of Mission Tandrust Punjab and Student Activity Book on Climate Change prepared by Punjab State Council for Science & Technology besides Compendium on Environment Acts, Rules and Regulations prepared by Punjab Pollution Control Board.
Prominent amongst other present on occasion included Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Prof. Dr. Adarsh Pal Vig, Member Secretary PPCB Er. Karunesh Garg, Director, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Manish Kumar, Director General Pushpa Gujral Science City Kapurthla Dr. Neelima Jerath, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology Dr. JK Arora, Nodal Officer, Mission Tandrust Punjab Gurharminder Singh and others.