Shun plastic, actress Gul Panag urges Mumbaikars

Feb 25, 2010 IANS

Mumbai, Feb 25 (IANS) In a bid to save the environment, actress Gul Panag Thursday appealed to Mumbaikars to shun plastic.

"I believe that the type of people who stay in Mumbai and earn their living, are all aware of their surroundings and if we appeal to them with the objective of this project �Say No To Plastic', I think they will surely be a part of it. With their cooperation, we can take forward this responsibility," Panag told reporters after the official launch of the Green Commandoes project here Thursday.

Green Commandoes will start its first initiative �Say No To Plastic', which will be carried out in 400 areas of Mumbai. Green Commandoes will engage themselves with local communities to make their neighbourhood plastic free and eco-friendly.

"I will truly be associated with all the activities of Green Commandoes," said Panag.

The actress maintained that people keep their homes clean but don't do the same while on the road. "People never give a second thought before spitting or littering on the road. We must think of it. If there is no cooperative movement, there is no difference between us and animals," said the actress.

Asked if there should be a legislative ban on the use of plastic, Panag said: " There hasn't been any legislative ban on plastic till now. It is very important that every state show their will to enforce a ban on plastic."

"Maybe in the near future we will see a legislative ban on plastic. But until then, I think it is our civic responsibility to try and bring whatever change we can bring. We can stop spitting or littering on the roads, we can stop using plastic. These things are in our control, so we should start doing that from today."