Lucknow, Nov 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday called for a complete boycott of single-use plastic, describing it as a serious threat to the environment, human health and future generations.
Addressing the 'Gomti Utsav-2026' here, Adityanath said the use of plastic for temporary convenience is polluting rivers and nature, urging people to stop using it.
"Single-use plastic is a major challenge for the environment, health and safety. Its use must be stopped immediately," he said, appealing to people to opt for cloth or reusable materials instead.
The chief minister also expressed concern over dumping of plastic waste into rivers after religious rituals, calling the practice a grave sin that pollutes water bodies.
Highlighting the importance of the Gomti, he described it as the soul of Lucknow and said rivers have played a crucial role in the development of civilisations and cultures across the world.
He observed that while the Gomti flows clean and uninterrupted before reaching Lucknow, its condition deteriorates after entering the city.
The state government has constructed new sewage treatment plants (STPs) to prevent drains and sewage from flowing into the river, he said, urging the Gomti Utsav organisers to make river cleanliness and conservation the central theme of the festival.
Adityanath also called for linking the festival with tourism and culture, saying it should provide a platform to local artisans, handicraft workers and traditional culinary practitioners to promote the region's cultural heritage.
Referring to women's entrepreneurship, he said women -- with their culinary skills -- could compete with even the world's largest food companies.
Taking a swipe at previous governments, he said they had given Uttar Pradesh "one district, one mafia", while the present government had introduced initiatives such as 'One District One Product' (ODOP) and 'One District One Cuisine'.
Expressing concern over changing lifestyles, the chief minister said family members living under the same roof are increasingly becoming engrossed in smartphones, with little interaction among themselves.
Festivals such as Gomti Utsav are important as they bring people out of their homes and provide opportunities to reconnect with family and society, he said.
Adityanath also referred to the Deepotsav in Ayodhya, saying no such Diwali event was organised prior to 2017. He expressed hope that the celebrations would eventually receive global recognition from UNESCO.
On the occasion, the chief minister honoured distinguished personalities who have made notable contributions in different fields with the 'Gomti Gaurav Samman'.
