*No compromise on damaging environment, violators will be dealt with stern action: Meet Hayer*
*Environment Minister urges the industries to play a constructive role in preserving the environment for the coming generations*
Chandigarh, July 27
Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Hayer on Wednesday warned people to face the music for damaging the environment and said that it is the high time to take concrete steps to preserve the natural resources for the future generations.
“Environment maintenance is a mutual responsibility of all of us. It is also our duty to preserve natural resources and a clean environment for future generations,” said Hayer while chairing a meeting regarding the Punjab Plastic Waste Management Society at the Punjab Pollution Control Board here.
Meet Hayer said that the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to industrial development for the progress of Punjab but at the same time there will be no compromise in the matter of damaging the environment. He said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance against drugs and pollution.
The Minister advised the society to rope in more and more companies in their society and to make it a financially sound model. Massive awareness is required among the public so as to make it a public movement, only then the mission of the Chief Minister Mann, Punjab to make the state “Green Punjab” will be achieved.
Meet Hayer assured industrialists of fulsome support and cooperation from the state government so that this quintessential threat to human existence can be checked. Leading from the front to tackle this serious issue, the Minister offered the board members that he will take part in their cleanliness drives if they take initiative anywhere in the state.
He said that they have got a clean environment from our forefathers but in the last 20-25 years the problem of pollution has exacerbated, therefore, it is high time that people must take responsibility to preserve the environment for the coming generations.
Earlier, the Minister was briefed about the working of the society conceptualized by the Board about 5 years back and that it is one of its kind initiatives in entire country for collection and disposal of multi-layered plastic The society presented the Minister with products such as pen-holder, bird nest, board and others made out of plastic waste as well as other alternatives to the plastic like jute and cloth bags.
The Minister lauded the efforts made by the Board for control of plastic pollution in the State. He exhorted the Board as well as society to enhance their activities regarding MLP throughout Punjab as well as include other plastic waste collection in their scope.
He emphasised that it is one of the main promises of the State government to provide a clean environment to the public as well as our future generations.
The officers of the Board as well as office bearers of the society assured the Minister that all out efforts shall be made to fulfil the expectations of the Government.
Chairman of Punjab Pollution Control Board Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, while appreciating the personal involvement of the Environment Minister, said that environmental protection is a significant aspect.
Board Member Secretary Engineer Karunesh Garg welcomed everyone and shared the agenda of the meeting. Representatives of industries and members of the society were also present in the meeting.
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