Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday banned the use of plastic flexi or vinyl banners in the state. The CM made the announcement as he launched a massive beach cleaning programme in Visakhapatnam in partnership with US-based 'Parleys for Oceans'.
On occasion, CM Jagan Jagan Mohan Reddy said instead of plastic banners, cloth banners should be used to protect the environment.
"Our endeavour is to make Andhra Pradesh plastic-free by 2027. Ban on vinyl banners is a first step in that direction," the Chief Minister said at the event.
Reddy claimed the beach cleaning drive that was held in Visakhapatnam was the biggest such exercise in the world.
"About 76 tons of plastic was removed from the seashore. Seventy per cent of the oxygen on Earth comes from the ocean. Hence we need to save the ocean," Jagan said.
"Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam already complies with the plastic-free policy, producing positive outcomes. We are also gradually making progress throughout the state, trying to educate people about the benefits of using materials other than plastic," the Andhra CM further said.
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CM Jagan said that economic progress should be achieved while protecting the environment and the Andhra Pradesh government was acting sincerely.
Municipal and Urban Development Minister Adimulapu Suresh said that the environment could be saved by banning plastic. He remarked that it was encouraging to observe widespread public involvement in the initiative to make Visakhapatnam a plastic-free city.
Minister Gudivada Amarnath, City Mayor Golagini Venkata Hari Kumari, District Collector A Mallikarjuna, Police Commissioner Ch Srikanth and other officials participated in this programme.
(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com//amp)