No single-use plastics at monuments

The Tourism Ministry has banned the use of single-use plastics inside or within 100 meters of any monument.

“The single-use plastics will not be allowed inside and within 100 metres of any major or minor monuments,” said Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.

Calling upon people to shun the singleuse plastics, Home Minister Amit Shah urged citizens to make it a mass movement.

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to people to give up single-use plastic items. At the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, Modi urged the UN countries to shun all singleuse plastics.

According to the Environment Ministry, about 20,000 tonnes of plastics waste is generated every day in the country. Of this, only 13,000-14000 tonnes are collected.

The single-use plastics, also referred to as disposable plastics, are commonly used for packaging and include items intended to be used only once, before being thrown away or recycled. The single-use plastics items include carry bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery.