In a bid to reduce carbon emissions for making the state greener and healthier, Punjab Government on Sunday announced to impose a ban on single used plastic from coming July.

Taking another step towards the same, the Government also announced to institutionalize of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Environment Award for outstanding contribution towards environment protection and conservation of the state’s precious natural resources.

In addition, the government also announced to set up 55 STPs across the state. “These ultra-modern plants will reduce water pollution level to a certain extent as well as using the treated water for cultivation and other allied activities,” said the state Science, Technology, and Environment secretary Rahul Tewari during a virtual state-level function to mark World Environment Day 2022 on Sunday.

Tewari said that the State Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is committed to make Punjab clean, green, and pollution-free by walking on the path shown by our revered Guru Sahibs.

Speaking about initiatives of the State Government to convert fossil fuel-based industrial units into natural gas-based units, Tewari said that online monitoring of industrial units has been started by installing state of the art meters in industrial units as well as Online Monitoring Stations to check water and air pollution level.

Setting up the target of planting 1.20 crore saplings this year, Tewari said that the state was ready with Climate Action Plan 2.0 to reduce carbon emissions.

Announcing institutionalizing the environment awards in another path-breaking initiative, Tewari said that this award will be in recognition to the outstanding hard work made by individuals or organizations for the preservation of natural resources.

This award will be named after the great son of the soil and legendary martyr Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the emancipation of the country from the clutches of foreign imperialism, he said.

On the occasion, the Secretary also dedicated 50 MLDS capacity Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Ludhiana, and the gallery of Pushpa Gujral Science City to showcase salient features of Tandrust Punjab Mission, to the people of the State.