Shillong, Sept 6: The Meghalaya Assembly has stopped distributing plastic water bottles to MLAs inside the House.

The initiative was in line with the campaign of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who also stopped using plastic water bottles or plastic materials in the chief minister’s office.

On the first day of the Autumn Session of the Assembly on Friday, all MLAs were given drinking water in glass water jugs along with glass.

The chief minister congratulated the Assembly Secretariat and the Deputy Speaker, Timothy D Shira and Assembly staff for taking the initiative which led the way out of plastic water bottle culture.

“It is a positive step of ensuring we tackle one part of environmental issue. If together we say no to plastics, it is one small way we can contribute to the environment,” Conrad said.

He said in fact many organizations including private companies are now joining hands with the government to end the use of plastic water bottles.

The chief minister also encouraged people engaged in the sale of single-use bottled water to change their packaging for the larger interest of humanity.

Stating a lot of companies have started using recycled bottles, the chief minister said, “The system (of using recycled bottles) is being accepted in many parts of the country today. Instead of using plastic bottles, I would encourage them to look into this technology and continue with their water businesses.”

He also assured that if the entrepreneurs are willing, the government is ready to discuss and guide them how to do it as there is a need to look into the larger interest.