Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to women not to use plastic bags to help protect the environment and suggested that they carry cloth bags, which are long-lasting, for shopping.
Shah said though the women may look somewhat "old fashioned" carrying the cloth bags, but such an initiative would help in saving the earth from plastic pollution. He said the Centre was also considering strong steps to stop the production of 'single-use' plastic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolve of Swachh Bharat (clean India). But, plastic is the "biggest hindrance" in realising that vision, he said addressing a gathering here.
"That is why our PM, in his Independence Day speech, urged the citizens to take up a movement against plastic from October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary)," Shah said. "I urge all the women to stop the use of plastic bags while going out for shopping. Instead, they can carry a cloth bag, which would last for 10 years," he said.
"Though you would look somewhat old fashioned carrying such cloth bags, it will serve to a great extent in saving our earth from plastic pollution," the BJP president said. He was addressing people at an event organised here by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to mark the conclusion of its campaign to pant 10 lakh trees in the city.
Prior to his address, Shah planted a tree and also flagged off eight electric-powered city buses newly acquired by the AMC.
From the same venue, he also inaugurated an automated battery charging and swapping station for these e-buses, claimed by the AMC to be the country's first such facility. "With PM Modi's efforts to tackle climate change, India is now guiding the world in solar energy following the formation of the International Solar Alliance," he said.
"Our Vedas and Upanishads termed the earth as our mother. And Modiji is working to stop the exploitation of our mother earth," he added.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani mentioned that the water level of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river has crossed 134 meters, just four metres short of its upper limit (of 138 metres).
To this, Shah said the "struggle of three generations" would come to a logical conclusion when the dam would overflow after crossing the upper most limit in days to come. He said though the country as well as the world have not taken note of the newly-formed Jal Shakti Ministry, it would prove its importance in the coming days with concrete steps in conserving water.
On the occasion, Shah urged the civic authorities to make sure that lakes in the city do not go completely dry. He also suggested the AMC to fill these lakes using the Narmada river water, if needed.
Referring to the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, Shah said the BJP workers would take out 'padyatras'(foot marches) in various Assembly segments of the state to spread the message and teachings of the Father of the Nation.
"Gandhian values are eternal. His teachings on village empowerment, khadi, cleanliness and non-violence are still relevant. When we are celebrating Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary, every citizen should make one resolution, which would ultimately benefit the nation," he said.
Shah, who represents Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, is also scheduled to attend a meeting of 'Disha', formerly known as the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee, in the state capital later in the day.
Disha is an initiative for the effective implementation of the central schemes at local level. Shah would conclude his visit by attending the 7th convocation ceremony of the Gandhinagar-based Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, before leaving for Delhi in the evening.
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