New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was on Thursday honoured with prestigious "Sustainable Development Leadership Award" by President Pranab Mukherjee here.
During "World Sustainable Development Summit" organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) at Vigyan Bhavan here, Chamling was recognised for his efforts to convert Sikkim into a fully organic state.
"The award was presented to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in recognition of his vision and leadership in environment and sustainable development leading to the establishment of Sikkim as the first and only organic state in the country," an official statement released here said.
Sikkim is the only state in India to have attained the official status of fully organic state in January 2016 announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Around 75,000 hectares of land in Sikkim has been converted into certified organic farms and it contributes around 80,000 tonnes of organic production out of total 1.24 million tonnes of organic production recorded in india.
"Chamling has taken various green initiatives under which ban on pan masala/gutka was enforced in the entire state in the year 1995, and subsequently in 1997 passed an Act on prohibition of throwing of non-degradable garbage in public drains and sewerage," it said.
There is a ban also in the state on smoking at public places.
