World Environment Day 2018: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates world's biggest sand turtle at Puri Beach

Padma Shri awardee and Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created the world's 'biggest' sand turtle with installation of plastic bottles at Odisha's Puri beach on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Yesterday, a pilot whale died after ingesting rubbish has highlighted Thailand's losing battle against plastic, said conservationists who called for urgent measures to cut back on pollution that also worsens urban flooding.

The whale was discovered in a canal in the southern province of Songkhla, and veterinarians and volunteers tried to save it for five days.

The whale spit out five plastic bags on Friday and later died, the Marine and Coastal Resources Department said on its website at the weekend. An autopsy found another 80 bags and other plastic items weighing 8 kg (17.6 lb) in its stomach.

Also Read: World Environment Day 2018: Alia Bhatt, Dia Mirza, Saina Nehwal lead the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign in India

India is the global host of this year's World Environment Day and the central theme is 'Beat Plastic Pollution.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to chair its plenary session on June 5 when he is expected to make a strong pitch to end the menace of plastic waste. PM Modi referred to the campaign in some detail in his previous radio talk 'Mann Ki Baat'.

A discussion paper by the sustainable development think-tank TERI - released by Union environment secretary CK Mishra in the run up to the World Environment Day (WED) - has highlighted how poor enforcement of existing rules led to indiscriminate littering of plastic waste, especially carry bags, causing severe environmental hazards.

Also Read: World Environment Day 2018: Water crisis looms over hill stations, metro cities in India