Shah urges women to shun plastic bags

Ahmedabad : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to women not to use plastic bags to help protect the environment and suggested that they carry cloth bags, which are long-lasting, for shopping.

Shah said though the women may look somewhat "old fashioned" carrying the cloth bags, but such an initiative would help in saving the earth from plastic pollution. He said the Centre was also considering strong steps to stop the production of 'single-use' plastic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolve of Swachh Bharat (clean India). But, plastic is the "biggest hindrance" in realising that vision, he said addressing a gathering here.

"That is why our PM, in his Independence Day speech, urged the citizens to take up a movement against plastic from October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary)," Shah said. He was addressing people at an event organised here by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to mark the conclusion of its campaign to pant 10 lakh trees in the city.

Prior to his address, Shah planted a tree and also flagged off eight electric-powered city buses newly acquired by the AMC. From the same venue, he also inaugurated an automated battery charging and swapping station for these e-buses, claimed by the AMC to be the country's first such facility.

Referring to the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, Shah said the BJP workers would take out 'padyatras' (foot marches) in various Assembly segments of the state to spread the message and teachings of the Father of the Nation. "Gandhi teachings are still relevant.

When we are celebrating Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary, every citizen should make one resolution, which would ultimately benefit the nation," he said.