Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday called for a united and sustained campaign to eliminate single-use plastic, warning that its growing use is creating serious risks for both the environment and public health. Speaking in the Haryana Assembly during the ongoing budget session, the chief minister stressed that meaningful change would only be possible if all stakeholders work together.
Addressing members on the fifth day of the session, Saini expressed deep concern over the widespread use of disposable plastic items. He said such products are among the biggest contributors to pollution in water bodies, soil and urban spaces. According to him, reducing plastic waste is not just a government responsibility but a collective duty of legislators and citizens.
The chief minister also referred to the national push led by Narendra Modi to eliminate single-use plastic. He described the issue as “extremely important” and urged lawmakers from all political parties to actively spread awareness among the public about avoiding plastic in daily life.
The matter came up during Question Hour when Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal sought information about steps being taken by the government to ensure the supply of clean drinking water in villages of her constituency.
Responding during the discussion, environment minister Rao Narbir Singh asked Bhukkal to take the lead in discouraging the use of polythene bags, which are already banned in the state. He said public cooperation is essential for the success of the government’s campaign against single-use plastic.
At this point, Chief Minister Saini intervened to emphasise that the government has been running awareness campaigns to educate people about the harmful effects of plastic. He said disposable plastic is at the root of many environmental and health problems and must be reduced urgently.
Supporting the chief minister’s stand, BJP MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap said Haryana should aim to completely eliminate hazardous plastic. He noted that plastic waste has already polluted water bodies and agricultural fields and called for strict action against harmful materials.
During the session, the chief minister also spoke about the government’s efforts to support farmers. Responding to a question from MLA Balram Dangi, Saini said the state has been ensuring timely compensation for crop losses.
He informed the House that around ₹6.5 crore has been disbursed as compensation to farmers in the Meham constituency. The chief minister said the government has introduced a more transparent system to assess crop damage and deliver relief.
Taking a political swipe at the previous Congress government, Saini alleged that earlier crop loss reports were often prepared without proper field visits. He said the current administration has fixed clear responsibilities for patwaris and is holding them accountable for negligence.
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According to the chief minister, patwaris are now required to submit written reports whenever crop damage occurs. He assured members that if any farmer is accidentally left out, compensation will still be provided after verification. He also warned that strict action would be taken against revenue officials found negligent in their duties.
The Assembly also discussed progress under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme. Health minister Arti Singh Rao informed the House that more than 1.38 crore Ayushman cards were active in Haryana as of February 20, 2026.
She said the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana currently offers 2,694 treatment packages covering surgeries, day-care procedures, medicines and diagnostic tests.
Highlighting future healthcare plans, the minister announced that a department of cancer sciences will be established at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Health Science University in Kutail. She also said a cath lab will be set up at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College in Karnal through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Rao added that super-specialty interventional cardiology services, including cardio-thoracic surgery, will also begin at the Karnal medical college under the PPP framework. The tendering process for the project is currently underway.
The health minister further informed that a joint Request for Proposal has been issued to establish cath labs in medical colleges across Haryana. She noted that cancer day-care centres are already operational in all civil hospitals, while major institutions such as PGIMS Rohtak, Atal Cancer Hospital Ambala and AIIMS Badsa are providing advanced cancer treatment in the state.
Overall, the Assembly session highlighted the government’s dual focus on environmental protection and public welfare. While the chief minister’s strong appeal against single-use plastic set the tone of urgency, the discussions on farmer compensation and healthcare expansion reflected the state’s broader policy priorities.
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