Gujarat Government Takes Green Step, Replaces Plastic Bottles with Glass in Secretariat
Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has announced a significant environmental initiative by deciding to replace plastic water bottles with glass bottles at the state secretariat. As part of this eco-friendly move, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today inaugurated an environmentally sustainable reusable glass water bottling facility at the secretariat campus.
Major Reduction in Plastic Waste Expected
Under this new facility, both the secretariat and assembly campus will now provide drinking water in glass bottles under the Sakhi Neer brand, replacing the traditional plastic bottles. With this plant becoming operational, the daily consumption of plastic bottles at the secretariat campus will be eliminated, and affordable drinking water will be provided in glass containers, leading to a substantial decrease in plastic waste generation.
The innovative technology has been developed by a young startup at the Savli Technology and Business Incubator under the state government’s Science and Technology Department. The startup has also secured two patents with assistance from the Science Technology Department.
Successful Pilot Project Already Running
A similar pilot project has been operational for three years at the Padmadungri Eco Tourism Site in Tapi district, run by the Forest Department and Sakhi Mandal sisters under the brand name Ambika Neer. Through this project, water is provided in glass bottles at the same price as plastic bottles, demonstrating the feasibility of the initiative.
Chief Minister Engages with Project Stakeholders
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel interacted with the women from Sakhi Mandal who operate the Sakhi Neer plant and the technology developer startups, offering them encouragement for their innovative work. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior officials including Forest Environment Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Science Technology Additional Chief Secretary Mona Khandhar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator and Head of Forest Force A.K. Singh, S.K. Srivastav, and other officers and staff from the Forest Environment and Climate Change Department.
This initiative represents a concrete step toward reducing plastic consumption in government facilities while supporting local entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment through the Sakhi Mandal program. The move aligns with broader environmental conservation efforts and demonstrates the state’s commitment to sustainable practices in administrative operations.