People visit a theme exhibition on World Environment Day in New Delhi, India, on June 5, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- India is hosting the World Environment Day-2018 on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Greetings on World Environment Day. Together, let us ensure that our future generations live in a clean and green planet, in harmony with nature."

In a significant decision taken on the eve of the World Environment Day, the government of northern state of Haryana banned single-use water bottles in all government offices in the state.

State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said a comprehensive scheme would be prepared to replace the plastic goods in the state, especially the polythene bags.

UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India Dia Mirza, who is also a popular film actress, said on the occasion that the use of plastic should be shunned from daily lives.

"My day starts with a bamboo tooth brush, I use bamboo ear buds, and I replaced my regular sanitary napkin which is largely made of plastic, with natural and bio-degradable one. I refuse to use plastic bags and always carry a cloth bag with me to buy daily use grocery items."

In an edit-piece published in English daily Hindustan Times, India's Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said that today plastic was littering the shorelines and clogging some beaches totally.

It is choking drains in cities, causing them to overflow, making them a breeding ground for diseases and it has turned out to be a global problem that the oceans and ecosystems are turning into dumping grounds, the minister said.

"If used widely, plastic is a miracle material. Look at any hospital and see the exquisitely created sterile packaging and basic items that save countless lives," he said.

"However, plastic materials that are used for manufacturing myriad products not degradable creates a problem. Our obsession with plastic, coupled with over consumption, the use-and-throw culture, and littering creates a hazardous environment for animals, marine life and human beings," he said in his write-up.

Volunteers collect plastic and other recyclable material at seaside in Mumbai, India, June 5, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer)

Single use plastic is a matter of great concern as it is not bio-degradable. UN estimates say that every year the world uses 500 million plastic bags, half of which are used just once.

As a committed nation to find solutions to this problem and also as a host of this year's environment day, India will appeal against single-use plastic, added the environment minister.

Two years ago, the Indian government notified the "Plastic Waste Management Rules" which recommended the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags be increased from 40 microns to 50 microns.

As per the figures in 2016, as much as 15,000 tons of plastic waste is generated every day, out of which 9,000 tons is collected and processed, but 6,000 tons of plastic waste is not being collected for recycling or processing.

Meanwhile, a certain number of self-inspired (towards environment) shopkeepers in Delhi prefer using paper bags or plastic bags of permissible thickness limits. Krishan Kumar Yadav of "Shri Gujarat Namkeen Bhandar," a sweet shop in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazar area, said that he has been using only paper bags for over five years.

"My shop offers ready-to-eat snacks, and I use paper plates or paper bags for the customers who come to my shop to have a quick snack. Only in case of customers who buy in bulk, I pack the products in plastic bags of the permissible thickness limit of over 50 microns," added Yadav.