SLUG: ECO-FRIENDLY TRANSITION
Gandhinagar: In a significant move to reduce single-use plastic in Gujarat, the forest and environment department has initiated a programme to provide hygienic reusable glass water bottles in the state secretariat, eliminating the use of plastic bottles. The govt plans to implement a model established by tribal women-led village cooperative from South Gujarat’s Padam Dungri ecotourism site in Tapi district and introduce glass water bottles in the Gandhinagar secretariat complex.
The principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force (PCCF & HOFF), Nityanand Srivastava, highlighted the department’s various efforts to reduce plastic use statewide. “As a component of this initiative at our ecotourism site Padam Dungri in South Gujarat, with assistance from the local tribal women village cooperative, we established a hygienic water bottling facility sourcing local river water as an alternative to plastic bottled water,” said Srivastava.
“The govt has proposed to replicate this system in the state secretariat and other govt offices in Gandhinagar and elsewhere. About 8,000-15,000 plastic water bottles are used daily during normal working days in the secretariat, generating substantial quantities of single-use plastic,” he added.
The govt plans to partner with the women cooperative, who successfully manage the glass water bottling facility. “We intend to establish an identical glass water bottling plant within the secretariat premises, utilizing Narmada water. We anticipate that once the glass water bottling facility commences operations, govt departments will stop using single-use plastic bottles,” explained Srivastava.
Govt officials noted that thousands of people visit the secretariat daily from across the state and beyond. “Serving water in glass bottles will set a positive example, encouraging wider adoption of reusable glass bottles for packaged water needs. Govt offices throughout Gujarat may progressively transition to glass water bottles, discontinuing single-use plastic bottles,” Srivastava stated.
Gandhinagar: In a significant move to reduce single-use plastic in Gujarat, the forest and environment department has initiated a programme to provide hygienic reusable glass water bottles in the state secretariat, eliminating the use of plastic bottles. The govt plans to implement a model established by tribal women-led village cooperative from South Gujarat’s Padam Dungri ecotourism site in Tapi district and introduce glass water bottles in the Gandhinagar secretariat complex.
The principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force (PCCF & HOFF), Nityanand Srivastava, highlighted the department’s various efforts to reduce plastic use statewide. “As a component of this initiative at our ecotourism site Padam Dungri in South Gujarat, with assistance from the local tribal women village cooperative, we established a hygienic water bottling facility sourcing local river water as an alternative to plastic bottled water,” said Srivastava.
“The govt has proposed to replicate this system in the state secretariat and other govt offices in Gandhinagar and elsewhere. About 8,000-15,000 plastic water bottles are used daily during normal working days in the secretariat, generating substantial quantities of single-use plastic,” he added.
The govt plans to partner with the women cooperative, who successfully manage the glass water bottling facility. “We intend to establish an identical glass water bottling plant within the secretariat premises, utilizing Narmada water. We anticipate that once the glass water bottling facility commences operations, govt departments will stop using single-use plastic bottles,” explained Srivastava.
Govt officials noted that thousands of people visit the secretariat daily from across the state and beyond. “Serving water in glass bottles will set a positive example, encouraging wider adoption of reusable glass bottles for packaged water needs. Govt offices throughout Gujarat may progressively transition to glass water bottles, discontinuing single-use plastic bottles,” Srivastava stated.
