Working on turning agri residue into  biodegradable disposables: Environment Minister

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday said the government was working on eco-alternatives like biodegradable cutlery and disposables from stubble and agricultural residue, providing not only an environmental solution to the problem of open burning, but also generating employment.

He said a joint action plan for Yamuna's restoration was being mulled by Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. “The Yamuna, which once flowed pristine and pure, is now in a critical state. Therefore, a joint inter-state action plan involving three state governments is being initiated to clean and rejuvenate the river from its source to its destination,” Yadav said.

Yadav urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to remove invasive species of plants like Prosopis Juliflora and plant native trees such as banyan, peepal, neem, ber and amla in the ridge area.

“Chief Ministers of all four Aravalli states — Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat — participated in this initiative by planting trees in their respective Aravalli districts. This effort symbolises a unified commitment to restoring green cover across this vital dry region, which serves as a natural oxygen bank,” he said.

Pointing out to the menace of plastic pollution, he said India was among the first countries to ban single-use plastic and implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.

“When I took charge as minister, I witnessed the extent of plastic waste along our coastlines. India, with over 7,516 km of coastline, faces the challenge of inland plastic waste reaching the oceans —endangering marine life and human health. If each of the 30 million people in Delhi reduces just 50 gm of single-use plastic per day, we can prevent mountains of plastic waste from forming,” he said.