HP to launch state-wide cleanliness drive

Shimla, Jul 8 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government will launch a state-wide cleanliness drive from July 8 to July 15 by associating all the educational institutions, panchayati raj institutions, municipal corporation, municipal councils, nagar panchayats and non-governmental organisations active in the state.

A consensus decision to this affect was taken by the State Cabinet, which met here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday.

''Nature has bestowed Himachal Pradesh with immense natural beauty, clean and serene environment, which is being degraded with the polluting activities,'' Mr Dhumal said The state has already banned the use of recycled polythene bags, which is the most hazardous ingredient to the environment and had stopped all anti environment activities, he said and added that unless the environment of the state is preserved the ecology of the entire area will get disturbed putting the existence of every living being into peril.

With a view to create mass awareness amongst the people the state wide special cleanliness drive will be launched in association with all the educational institutions, public representatives and municipal and Panchayati raj bodies.

The Chief Minister appealed to every citizen of the state to come forward and actively participate in the cleanliness drive being launched in the state and educate the masses about the drastic impact of the environment degradation.

He said the environment of the state was dear to the government and all out efforts will be made to protect the same in association with the residents of the state.

UNI AS PS AK BST0510