Karnataka to declare 5 cities as plastic free: Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre

In order to ensure a plastic-free state, Khandre said the state will adopt several measures including a complete ban on the manufacturing and usage of single-use plastics, will be committed to segregation and recycling of plastics into usable materials, and will encourage startups involved in research and development of innovative technologies to beat plastic pollution

The government will also create a green fund to support all these initiatives in collaboration with private sector CSR funds, respect the United Nations initiative of beating plastic pollution, and launch a special drive in the select five cities of Karnataka to declare them plastic-free, he added.

The minister also announced that the forest department will plant over 2.5 crore saplings this year. “Today, the level of air pollution in Delhi is excessive. If we are polluting the environment, there is a danger that Bengaluru will also face a similar situation in a few years. So, we should take steps to reduce pollution,” he said.