Chhattisgarh mulling polythene ban

Raipur, July 23 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government is contemplating a ban on polythene in view of the material clogging drains during the monsoon and also being consumed by domesticated animals.

''A decision will be taken soon and public awareness is imperative,'' Chief Minister Raman Singh said at the local airport yesterday during the inauguration of a biodiversity park and afforestation projects as part of 'Van Mahotsav'.

Afforestation would be undertaken this season, with cooperation from various departments and industrial institutes, alongside an approximately 1,000 km combined stretch of national and state highways besides other roads.

''The Forests Department has set a target for planting about 20 crore saplings, including 16 crore jatropha, this year,'' said Forests and Revenue Minister Brijmohan Agrawal.

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