Agartala, June 05, 2025: Marking World Environment Day, the Tripura Pradesh Congress has demanded an immediate and complete ban on single-use plastics and flex banners in the state, citing severe environmental degradation and escalating public health risks.

During a public meeting held to raise awareness about plastic pollution, senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman voiced grave concern over the unchecked use of plastics in daily life. “We are destroying our ecological balance. The widespread use of plastic packaging in food has contributed to alarming health issues like cancer,” he said. Highlighting the environmental toll, Barman added, “Plastic water bottles are choking our drainage systems, leading to severe flooding. We’re literally digging our own graves.”

Barman accused the state government of inaction and hinted at possible vested interests delaying enforcement. “If ministers themselves are involved in the flex printing business, what enforcement can we expect?” he remarked, calling on the public to voluntarily avoid plastic banners, bottles, and disposable items.

Tripura Congress President Asish Kumar Saha also criticized the state’s role in exacerbating the issue. “Despite a ban, the government continues to use flex banners for its own publicity. This blatant violation shows the lack of seriousness. The State Pollution Control Board is merely a spectator,” he alleged.

Both leaders stressed that the World Environment Day theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” should not be a symbolic gesture. They urged the state government to take strict action against violators and step up enforcement of existing environmental laws.

With Tripura witnessing frequent urban flooding and mounting plastic waste, the Congress called for immediate collaborative action between citizens and the administration to prevent irreversible damage.