Avoid single use plastics: Arjun Ram Meghwal

Chennai: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal called upon the people to avoid single use plastic and to take an oath that they will not use single use plastic one day in a week.

“Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has called for ban on single use plastic. Can we discontinue single use plastic? We have to take oath that I will not use single use plastic one day in a week,” the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, said.

Addressing “Vision New India 2022-Development Through Technology for All" conclave jointly organised by his Ministry and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, here he said an alternative should be invented to replace single use plastic. "India is one of the signatories of the Paris Agreement. We have to protect the environment and take suo motu action to reduce carbon emission,” he emphasised.

Referring to the last public speech by former president APJ Abdul Kalam at IIM Shillong in 2015, Mr. Meghwal said the late president had stressed the need to save the Earth.

“It is the duty of the present generation to follow his words to save the earth.

We follow the ideas of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. But we do not follow his words. We have to follow,” he said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters at the airport here, he pitched in for tapping renewable energy and cited the example of the Kochi airport, which uses solar power.  “Why cannot we introduce this (concept) in Chennai, Kolkata (airports) or in any other parts of the country?

We have to take some suo motu action and it can be done under CSR activity,” he said. Companies can form a consortium to take up the initiative and collaborate with institutions like IIT Madras.