File Photo: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel

Keeping in view protection of environment, cattle health & cleanliness, have declared Plastic ban across Gujarat. #IndependenceDay - Anandiben Patel (@anandibenpatel) August 15, 2015

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today announced a ban on the use of plastic in the state.After unfurling the National Flag at the Independence Day ceremony at Lunavada in Mahisagar district, Ms Patel tweeted:Several municipal bodies in the state have already baned use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns. But the state government has announced this kind of a ban for the first time.She didn't specify plastic carry-bags, though presumably the ban is only about such bags.Ms Patel also mentioned it in her speech."I was thinking of imposing a ban on use of plastic in Gujarat for four months. Nobody will be able to use plastic from now onwards. No shopkeeper in Gujarat will be able to use plastic," she said."I had spoken on the issue of plastic with many people and now I have reached a firm decision to ban the plastic because this is the only way to save our cattle," she added."Whenever I visited cattle health-care camps, I found that doctors perform surgery on cows and remove plastic from their bodies... in some cases more than 10 kgs. The cows consume the plastic thrown by us," she said."We opt for cow milk and ghee, then why shouldn't we take steps to stop using the plastic and take a pledge that we will not throw plastic outside?" the Chief Minister asked.