Javadekar takes up 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'

Minister of State (MoS) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday participated in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' in Pune.

"I am very happy today that all the people, NGO's, students and officers of the area in which I live in Pune, have come together to keep the surroundings clean," said Javadekar.

"Plastic, glass and thermacol increase the garbage. Daily around 15,000 tons of plastic garbage is produced out of which 9,000 ton is collected and 6,000 ton is left. This is very dangerous for our society," he added.

Talking of future plans in the same regard Javadekar said, "In every 100 meters a dustbin is going to be put. We are also planning to start a scheme under the name of 'Plastic free India'. This is just the first step."

The cleanliness drive, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, focuses on sanitation, hygiene and waste management. It encourages people to sweep, remove garbage, debris and unauthorized encroachments from roads, markets and residential places.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims at making India a clean country by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.