4 days ago
Shun plastic and use eco-friendly products, urges Collector
District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad on Saturday urged the citizens to strictly avoid plastic items and only use eco-friendly alternatives to protect the environment. He also stressed on the need for collective efforts to fight against plastic ban.
The Collector attended 'Swachh Andhra-Swarna Andhra' programme organised by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) at the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) centre at Yendada Junction.
Speaking at the programme, Mr. Prasad said that the government has been organising 'Swachh Andhra - Swarna Andhra' programmes across the State every third Saturday of the month to raise awareness on cleanliness. He called on citizens to support this cause in large numbers by not using single-use plastics and switch to environment-friendly alternatives.
'Single-use plastic waste often clogs drains and water bodies, leading to serious health risks during the rainy season. Sanitation workers risk their lives to remove plastic waste from drains every day. Plastics entering the ocean are consumed by fish, which eventually enter human consumption and may lead to severe diseases such as cancer,' he said.
He urged the public to use alternatives like paper, cloth, jute bags, steel and glass utensils, ceramic plates and cups, and reusable water bottles.
He also administered a 'Swachh Andhra Pledge' against plastic and released an awareness poster titled 'Let's End Plastic Pollution Together'.
Corporator Lodagala Apparao, GVMC Additional Commissioner D.V. Ramana Murthy, Chief Medical Officer Dr. E.N.V. Naresh Kumar and others attended.
Sanitation workers and NGO representatives who contributed significantly helping the city win 'Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher' award were felicitated. He later visited various stalls showcasing eco-friendly alternatives and applauded their efforts.
