Addressing a function to mark the Earth Day, Sheila Dikshit also asked the people to follow the 'mantra' of reduce, recycle and reuse to minimise pressure on scarce natural resources.
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit today exhorted people in the city to shun plastic bags, plant more trees and "follow good habits" to prevent damage to environment.
Addressing a function to mark the Earth Day, Dikshit also asked the people to follow the 'mantra' of reduce, recycle and reuse to minimise pressure on scarce natural resources.
"We must avoid using plastic bags. We should plant more trees and we must follow good habits of limiting our consumptions," she said.
In tune with its eco-friendly initiatives, the Delhi government earlier this month had imposed a blanket ban on manufacture, sale, storage and use of plastic bags in the city.
The ban was imposed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 under which the violators could face imprisonment up to five years and fine of upto Rs1 lakh or both.
Noting that climate change poses the "greatest challenges of our time", Dikshit said the challenge also provides an unprecedented opportunity to build an economy based on clean energy.
Dikshit administered school students present on the occasion pledge to conserve and preserve the mother earth and follow good habits to keep alive the bounties of the nature.
Dikshit also expressed her concern over extinction of sparrows in the city, Earth Day which was founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, has now become the most widely celebrated international environmental event to inspire awareness to protect the environment.
Earth Day is now celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day.
"It is a day to think of the environmental challenges we face and how to solve them. Protecting Earth is responsibility of every person, every country," said Dikshit.
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