NEW DELHI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the country would ban single-use plastic in the coming years and that it was high time for the world to do the same.
Addressing the 14th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification held near Delhi, Modi that plastic was a form of land degradation which if not prevented today could be impossible to reverse in future.
"This is the menace of plastic waste. Apart from having adverse health implications, this is going to render lands unproductive and unfit for agriculture," said Modi in his speech.
"We are committed to the development of environment friendly substitutes and also an efficient plastic collection and disposal method. I believe the time has come for even the world to say good bye to single use plastic," the Indian premier added.
Sharing the success of his government's ambitious cleanliness drive, which has raised the sanitation coverage from 38 percent in 2014 to 99 percent as on date, Modi said that the same spirit among the countrymen could be seen to ensuring the end of single use plastic.
"Youngsters in particular are more supportive and are taking the lead to bring positive change. The media is also playing a very valuable role," added Modi.
Making further commitment to the global land agenda, he also offered India's support to those countries who might like to understand and adopt some of the LDN (Land Degradation Neutrality) Strategies that have succeeded in India.
