Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Wednesday kicked off the state-wide plastic waste collection drive on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The programme is part of the Swachhata Hi Seva initiative undertaken by the Central government to curb the menace of plastic pollution in the country.
Speaking at the event at old NST bus stop here, Rio honoured the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and called him the true advocate and torchbearer for cleanliness and sanitation in the country.
He also highlighted and praised the various initiatives undertaken by the Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for achieving a clean India.
“God has created our planet so beautifully. Mother Earth can provide for all our needs but it cannot sustain our greed and it is because of our greed that today so many environmental issues such as global warming and plastic pollution are taking place” he said.
The Chief Minister also called upon the people of the state to come forward and work together with the government to ensure that they protect the environment against all kinds of pollution and make the state a plastic free state.
Rio also said that the government is a mirror image of the people and that it is time for the public to stop blaming the government for everything and start taking initiative and actively participate in taking the state forward in all aspects.
“Unless the public co-operates and works together hand in hand with the government, our dream of a better Nagaland will be never be a reality,” he asserted.
The mass movement against plastic waste was officially kicked off with everyone present taking the pledge not to use plastic.
The Chief Minister, along with some of his colleagues and high-ranking state officials, also participated in the collection of plastic waste in the state capital.
IANS