India, May 1 -- LUCKNOW In a major push towards environmental sustainability and campus hygiene, the century-old University of Lucknow (LU) has launched its "mission clean", declaring the campus a plastic-free zone. The mandate comes just a day after the university administration imposed a strict ban on the use of tobacco and paan masala on the premises.

The administration has formally vested the responsibility in all deans, heads of departments, coordinators, directors, in-charges and officers. These officials are now tasked with ensuring that all employees, faculty members, students and canteen operators remain committed to abandoning plastic bags and other plastic-based items.

LU registrar Bhavna Mishra, in an order, stated: "It has ...