The UT Administration and the civic body on Wednesday launched “Plastic Free Chandigarh” campaign here.

Under the campaign, various activities would be organised across the city to encourage the citizens to completely discard the usage of plastic.

 Manoj Kumar Parida, adviser to the UT Administrator launched the campaign ‘Plastic Free Chandigarh’ under the Swachchhata hi Sewa programme, here at Central Plaza, Sector 17.

A mass awareness campaign against the use of plastic under the theme “Plastic Mukt Bharat” would be conducted throughout the city.

During the campaign different programmes would be conducted in three phases i.e. from September 11 to October 1 focusing on awareness programmes, “Shramdaan” as mass movement on October 2 in the second phase and recycle or disposal of collected plastic waste, leading to a plastic free Diwali programmes from October 3 to October 22 in the third phase.

While addressing the stakeholders, the Adviser stressed upon the need to abolish plastic from daily routine life. He said the ban on plastic items cannot be successful without cooperation of public.

The adviser also launched selfie competition, signature campaign against the use of plastic in the city. In addition, a display van was flagged off, which will roam throughout city to encourage citizens not to use plastic items.

KK Yadav, MCC Commissioner informed that the awareness campaigns of MCC will focus to ensure all coming festivals are zero-waste and plastic free events to make “Plastic Free Chandigarh”.

He said each and every stakeholder of the city will be involved in this campaign.  Seminars would be organised in schools, colleges and other educational institutions. Volunteers of NSS, NCC, Scouts & Guide would be roped in this mass campaign.

A mass level programme would be conducted on October 2 to take pledge for a plastic waste free city and organize “Shramdaan” for plastic waste collection. One day of every month will be earmarked as “Plastic Free day” in Chandigarh, he added.