Shimla, June 5 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday launched a statewide awareness campaign on World Environment Day, pledging to eliminate plastic pollution and make the state plastic-neutral within five years.

Speaking at the event in Shimla, CM Sukhu said, "We must protect the natural beauty that Himachal has been blessed with. Our target is to gradually wipe out plastic from daily life. Once it becomes a habit, once it becomes part of our nature, plastic will be easily phased out."

The campaign launch saw the Chief Minister administering an environmental pledge to schoolchildren, municipal workers, cyclists, and government officials, urging collective commitment towards a plastic-free Himachal.

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