Strike balance between development and environmental protection: CM

Various initiatives have been taken during the last two and a half years to make Himachal Pradesh a 'Green and Clean State', with an objective to improve the effectiveness of environmental management, protect vulnerable ecosystems and enhance sustainability of development.

- DINESH AGARWAL

In this direction, high level meetings have been chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the results have started pouring in. The ban on use of 500 ml plastic water bottles from 1 June 2025, the 'Clean City, Prosperous City Campaign', launched on 5 February in the State, shift towards solar energy, construction of green corridors, launching of e-vehicles as compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles to reduce the carbon footprints, the Green School Programme, etc are the several key initiatives taken to make realize the dream of 'Green Energy State' by 31 March, 2026.

To motivate the children, the Chief Minister recently announced to distribute 60,00,00 stainless steel water bottles to school students, so that they could refrain from the use of plastic water bottles. Regulations related to plastic use have been made quite stringent.