Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), June 5 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday launched a statewide awareness campaign on World Environment Day, pledging to eliminate plastic pollution and make the state plastic-neutral within five years.

Speaking at the event in Shimla, CM Sukhu said, 'We must protect the natural beauty that Himachal has been blessed with. Our target is to gradually wipe out plastic from daily life. Once it becomes a habit, once it becomes part of our nature, plastic will be easily phased out.'

The campaign launch saw the Chief Minister administering an environmental pledge to schoolchildren, municipal workers, cyclists, and government officials, urging collective commitment towards a plastic-free Himachal.

A key feature of the initiative is the pilot Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), under which consumers will pay an additional Rs5 to Rs10 on plastic or glass products at purchase. This amount will be refunded upon returning the used items at designated collection points, tracked via QR codes on packaging.

CM Sukhu added, 'This is an innovative scheme to build good environmental habits through incentivisation. We are launching it with technology integration.' He added that a full policy detailing plastic collection and recycling under the DRS is being developed and will be implemented in phases.

The awareness groups flagged off included students, government employees, and six cyclists who will travel across districts collecting plastic waste and spreading environmental awareness.

'I extend greetings to all environment lovers on World Environment Day. Himachal is blessed with dense forests in North India. Protecting it is our responsibility. This Deposit Refund Scheme is a step toward that. With planning, policy, and participation, plastic will be wiped out from Himachal,' CM Sukhu said.

Addressing other matters, Sukhu expressed condolences over the recent tragic stampede in Bengaluru during an IPL screening, where 11 people died. 'It's a very sad incident. So many people gathered, and unfortunately, lives were lost. We pray for the injured and the families of the deceased,' he said.

Clarifying reports about Rs10 charges collected at hospitals, the Chief Minister stated that no government directive had been issued. 'Hospitals have been made autonomous. If they are collecting Rs10 for cleanliness or management, it is not under government instruction. They are free to regulate internally, but we have only sought feedback, not enforced any such fee,' he said.

Meanwhile, in Nahan, an 82-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19. Officials said she had no travel history, and contact tracing is underway. 'We're investigating if the test was accurate or if there was another source of infection. Hospitals are fully prepared to handle any surge,' CM Sukhu assured.

Aditya Negi, one of the cyclists participating in the campaign, said, 'It feels great to be a part of this initiative. Cycling through the hills while picking up waste is our way of showing that even small steps can create big change.'

Lakshita, a student and campaign participant, expressed hope for a cleaner future. 'We want to see Himachal as clean and green as it should be. We will avoid plastic in our daily life and educate others too.'

Environmentalist Pradeep Sangwan, who has worked extensively on plastic waste management in the Himalayan region, endorsed the government's DRS model. He called the campaign a crucial intervention and praised the Department of Environment, Science and Technology for introducing the scheme.

'In Himachal and the Himalayas, both rural and urban regions require integrated solutions for waste management,' Sangwan said. 'The DRS policy is commendable. It sets a formal collection and refund mechanism for every item that enters the state.'

He added, 'In Kedarnath and other parts of Uttarakhand, we're already running similar depository setups. We're collecting 6-7 tonnes of waste daily and recycling it 100 percent. Over 2,000 tonnes of waste has been processed and returned to circulation cleanly.'

Sangwan emphasised local community involvement, stating, 'Locals should guide tourists--this is my street, this is my hill, I must protect it. Carrying 200 grams of waste back isn't hard if they brought it in. We can preserve our beautiful landscapes with small daily actions.'(ANI)