The Department of Environment has celebrated World Environment Day with the slogan 'Minimizing Plastic Pollution: Our Responsibility'. On the occasion of the International Environment Day, which is celebrated every year on June 5, the department organized various programs in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Minister of State for Forests and Environment Rupa Vick said that plastic pollution is seen as a serious challenge in the world and all levels should be involved in solving it. "Plastic pollution used to be seen only in the city, but now plastic pollution has started reaching the villages as well," she said, "everything should be done to solve it." It seems that we should be sensitive at all levels.' She said that it is necessary for everyone to think about how to become practical in solving

plastic pollution. Also, she emphasized that environmental pollution is not only a matter of the Ministry of Forests and that all ministries should be involved in it. "Environmental pollution cannot be said to be the responsibility of the Ministry of Forests only," she said, "coordination and cooperation of inter-ministerials is very important." Similarly, she said that everyone should cooperate and implement the plastic ban.

Gyanraj Subedi, Director General of the Environment Department, said that the habit of using plastic should be reduced. Plastic flowers and bouquets are completely prohibited. However, it is found somewhere in the market," he said, "We should reduce the use of plastic. The habit of using plastic should be reduced.

In the past, there was no extreme use of plastic, but now its use is increasing everywhere and it should be reduced. The government has said that plastic bags less than 40 microns cannot be used in the budget of the next financial year. The Department of Environment has also issued guidelines on this. But the implementation aspect is always weak, said the vice president of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Shivraj Adhikari . "There is a provision in the law that this should be done," he said, "but there is a weakness in how to go about its implementation." He said that the commission is going to make an implementation plan within the next fiscal year to move forward in a coordinated and sensible manner. He also emphasized that the budget has arrived and all agencies should work together.

Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra said that plastic has traveled a hundred years and is closely connected with human life. It is not easy to get rid of it. But if we don't reduce it, it will put human civilization at risk tomorrow,' he said, 'so we are going to celebrate this year's environment day with the slogan 'Let's reduce plastic.'

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the private sector is keeping the environment in mind while increasing commercial activities. "There is an opinion of the private sector that environment and development should be brought together," he said, "but it has also been seen that development should not be brought forward in the name of environment in some cases". If we look at something only negatively, it will not contribute to anything.