The Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) on Thursday said it was time not only for the business community but for every customer to wake up and join the fight against use of single-use plastics to save Mother Earth for the future generations.
NCCI chairman Dr Khekugha Muru, in a release, said though Nagaland is blessed with rich flora and fauna, beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes, reckless use and dumping of plastic bags, thermocol plates and cups had slowly but surely started showing adverse effects on the environment.
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It said mindless use of plastic has also resulted in clogged drains, while burning of plastics had aggravated air pollution in towns and cities, leading to a health hazard.
The trade body appealed to the customers to support the cause and follow certain good practices like carrying shopping bags while going for shopping and keeping the shopping bags handy in a vehicle to avoid usage of plastic bags.
“Such small support from the customers would help in a great way towards plastic-free Nagaland,” Muru said.
The NCCI lauded the initiatives taken by its confederating chamber of commerce and industry of Phek, Kiphire, Wokha, Mon and Longleng in fighting single-use plastic.
It asked all business establishments where the single-use plastic ban has not been implemented to use a minimalistic approach in using plastic carry bags and switch to paper and jute bags.
It called for emulating the success story of Phek in the fight against single-use plastic by all.
The NCCI urged its remaining confederating units to start generating awareness in their respective districts and set a target to do away with single-use plastic bags, thermocol plates and cups in a time-bound manner.
The trade body reminded the business community that the success of plastic-free Nagaland initiative hugely depended on them.
It said the business houses have a moral obligation to care for the future generations and Mother Earth.
It congratulated and appreciated Himalayans Cleanup team of Nagaland for organising zero-waste event in the state on May 25 and appealed to all stakeholders to join the fight.