Following an advisory of the Environment Ministry, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has ordered all universities and higher educational institutions to impose a ban on use of plastic materials inside campuses.
According to UGC, India will be hosting World Environment Day celebrations on “Beat Plastic Pollution” at the United Nations.
In a letter, the UGC asked all plastic materials including tea and coffee cups, plastic bags, disposable food plates to be banned in campuses. Also, students should be encouraged to use refillable bottles. The UGC also directed educational institutions to conduct mass awareness campaigns to curb the use of plastic and to promote Swachh Bharat Mission.
Earlier, the Environment Ministry had directed schools to ban the use of plastics along with creating teams to clean beaches, polluted rivers and lakes throughout the country.