Chennai, Aug 8 (BPNS)
As part of a plastic-free Nilgiris district, the administration has commenced distributing free cloth bags to all the houses in the district. 99000 houses are included in the scheme and the district administration is distributing the free cloth bags under the ‘Meendum Manjappai’ scheme of the state government.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials along with the district administration are spearheading the distribution of free cloth bags in the district. It may be noted that Nilgiris is the most important tourist spot of Tamil Nadu and lakhs of visitors throng the district including the hill station, Ooty which is a favourite location for the tourists.
State Forest Minister K. Ramachandran while speaking to BPNS said, “ The district administration of Nilgiris and the Pollution Control Board officials have decided to distribute free cloth bags as part of the 99th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister, late M. Karunanidhi to avoid people from using plastic bags.”
He said that he has directed the officials to create more awareness among people about the necessity of cloth bags and why plastic bags are a non-entity.
The Tamil Nadu forest minister has already roped in several NGOs and social activists and all political parties along with the officials to create awareness among the public on the necessity of plastic-free Nilgiris.
It is to be noted that a plastic ban is in place in the district since January 1, 2019, and the district administration has been conducting surprise checks in shops and other establishments and charging heavy fines to violators of the plastic ban.
Ramesh Chandranarayanan, social activist and environmentalist based at Udhagamandalam in Nilgiris district while speaking to BPNS said,” The government of Tamil Nadu is trying its best to bring about Nilgiris as a plastic-free district. The cloth bag distribution by the district administration in association with the Tamil Nadu pollution control board is a step in the right direction. As a social activist, I have been involved in creating awareness among the public for a plastic-free district.”
