'Blow whistle, save Shimla' campaign launched on World Earth Day

Shimla, Apr 22 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister J P Nadda flagged off the ''Seeti Bajao, Shimla Bachao'' (blow whistle, save Shimla) campaign, on the occasion of 'World Earth Day' today as part of the initiative to keep the Himachal Pradesh environment clean.

Mr Nadda flagged off the campaign from the historic Ridge Maidan, which aimed at keeping Shimla free from litters and polybags.

The campaign had been launched with the active participation of school children who would act as ''whistle blowers'' to warn those defacing the hills by throwing litters and other solid wastes in open places.

''Children will help in the cleanliness campaign and this will have a sobering effect on those violating the relevant laws and throwing filth in open places, especially in the urban areas,'' Mr Nadda said, after launching the campaign.

About 400 children from 20 children's clubs of local schools participated in the march organised on this occasion to spread awareness about the environment.

The Minister said the campaign would be launched in all parts of the state and continue till the World Environment Day on June 5.

''In fact, it would be anti-littering campaign with the focus on proper and voluntary implementation of laws like Non-biodegradable Solid Waste (garbage) Disposal Act, which prohibited use of recycled polybags,'' he added.

He also said the Department of Forest and Environment would be the nodal agency for coordinating various activities under the seven-week long campaign and the Deputy Commissioners would be asked to review the implementation of various environmental acts and suggest ways for their more effective implementation.

''Environment has emerged as a global issue and it is our collective responsibility to save the Earth from the ecological and environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emission, threatening to warm up the planet, leading to disastrous impact on vegetation, crops and lives of people and animals,'' he said.

Mr Nadda mentioned the state government was committed to taking all the possible steps to save the environment and ecology, but the people must also contribute in the efforts of the government in a positive manner.

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