Dikshit urges people to shun polybags

NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Saturday urged people to use cloth and jute bags as she launched the “Sheel Shera” project aimed at discouraging the use of plastics.

“Plastic is harmful to the society. It is not being accepted by the mother earth and even animals become target of plastic which is much dangerous,” Dikshit said here at a function.

The project involves more than 50 schools.

The chief minister stressed upon the need to use environment-friendly bags apart from bringing awareness on environmental issues. She called upon people to make their own bags with used clothes.

Luminaries from the Delhi government and a large number of school children were present on the occasion.

The government has made strict provisions, including fine and imprisonment, against use of plastic bags in Delhi.

The Shera mascot of the 2010 Commonwealth Games displayed at the function was made up of 250,000 polybags collected by residential societies, rag pickers and school children.