Internationally acclaimed wrestler ‘The Great Khali’, Dalip Singh Rana has been declared as brand ambassador for Plastic free Himachal Pradesh.

He was declared the brand ambassador by Forest and Transport Minister Govind Thakur on Friday during the celebration of ‘Riverfront Cleanliness Campaign’ at Manu Rangshala, Manali in Kullu district being organised by Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE).

HIMCOSTE has started a 20 days ‘Riverfront cleaning campaign by the ECO club schools under National Green Corps Programme’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, government of India. The programme will cover three districts Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur.

On the occasion Dalip Singh Rana (The Great Khali) was present as the guest of honour.

Govind Thakur, while launching the initiative of cleaning the river banks of the Beas river, said that the campaign is a part of World Environment Day celebration.

He said that the theme of World Environment day 2018 is “beat the plastic pollution” which urges governments, industries, communities and individuals to come together and explore sustainable alternatives and urgently reduce the production and excessive use of single-use plastics and plastic on a whole polluting our oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health.

He appreciated the efforts of the HIMCOSTE for taking this initiative through the Members of Eco Club Schools of district Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur covering three river stretches that include Kullu-Manali (Beas), Mandi (Beas) and Rewalsar Wetland, Bilaspur (Satluj and Beas) – Govindsagar lake.

Thakur highlighted the importance of the rivers in our day life and how the rivers are being threatened by heavy influx of plastic waste.

He also stressed that it is the moral duty of every citizen of the state to manage and minimise the use of plastics.

He said that it is a sad thing that people have not realised the importance of rivers.

The rivers contains plastic waste, pesticides and chemicals used as manure and poisonous wastes from factories. He said that during the campaign different departments like district administration, ITBP, Eco Task Force, Education department, Forest Department, Urban Development Department, Panchyati Raj Institutions, Colleges, Mahila Mandal, Yuvak mandal, NGOs and other stakeholder agencies would be involved during the campaign from 18 May to 5 June.

More than 1,000 members of 20 eco club schools from Kullu district would be involved during the campaign near the Baes river, he said, adding that areas like Manali, Patlikul Katrain and Kullu would be covered during the campaign.