Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has asserted that there is a need to spread awareness to curb plastic usage. Talking to the media in New Delhi, the Minister informed that 95 lakh tonnes of plastic waste is generated by single use plastic out of which 6 lakh tonnes go into the sea contaminating the waters.
He said the aim of the Ministry is to phase out plastic use in packaging and move towards 100 percent use of jute in packaging foodstuffs. Mr Paswan said that during a meeting attended by industry organisations and stakeholders and various government departments, there were deliberations on issues relevant to packaging of drinking water.