Appreciating the initiatives taken by its confederating chamber of commerce & industry of Phek, Kiphire, Wokha, Mon and Longleng to fight single-use plastic, Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has 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.
In a press release, NCCI chairman Dr Khekugha Muru also appealed to 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, he stressed.
Calling for emulating the success story of Phek in the fight against single-use plastic by all, NCCI urged the 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, adding that they had a moral obligation to care for the future generations and Mother Earth.
Mentioning that Nagaland was blessed with rich flora and fauna, beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes, NCCI, however, rued that reckless use and dumping of plastic bags, thermocol plates and cups had slowly but surely started showing adverse effects on the environment. It said that mindless use of plastic had 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 said it was convinced that it was time not only for the business community, but every customer to wake up and join the movement and fight against use of single-use plastics and save Mother Earth for future generations.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry congratulated and appreciated Himalayans Cleanup team of Nagaland for organising zero-waste event in the State on May 25, while appealing to all stakeholders to join the fight.