With an aim to discourage people from using plastic products, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said the government was contemplating increasing tax on them by 4% to 5%.
Addressing a gathering after observing World Environment Day at Chowdiah Memorial Hall here, he said that discouraging people from using plastic will help promote cottage industry, which uses biodegradable materials.
“There is increased use of plastic bags when people go to buy clothes, grocery or fruits. If taxes are increased on plastic products, it will discourage people from using them. Promoting cottage industry is also the need of the hour, which will help improve the financial condition of farmers and stop youth in rural places from migrating to cities in search of jobs,” said the Chief Minister. The coalition government will move in positive directions to promote environmental causes, he said.
He said initiatives such as planting a crore saplings are ideas expanded on paper, with little happening on ground. “To build the metro, trees were axed in the city, but have we done enough to restore the loss,” he asked.
On World Environment Day, the State government has chosen T.V. Ramachandra of Indian Institute of Science, Pamela Malhotra of Kodagu district, and Ajay A. Desai from Bagalkot for the Karnataka Rajya Parisara Prashasthi (2017-18) for their contribution to protect the environment in individual category. In award for organisation category, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Corporation, Zilla Panchayat Udupi and Zilla Panchayat Haveri received the awards.
