Lok Sabha polls: Parties turn eco-friendly
TNN | Updated: Mar 13, 2019, 07:11 IST
A man holds an RJD flag made of cloth, in Patna on TuesdayPATNA: Political parties are exercising caution this time as far as use of non-biodegradable material for making posters and banners for the Lok Sabha election is concerned.
Acting on a recommendation of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked all political parties on February 26 to avoid the use of plastic and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets for making posters and banners. Plastic and PVC sheets are non-biodegradable in nature and pose a threat to the ecological balance.
The state government has already banned plastic bags and plastic sheets of all sizes and thickness in urban areas since December 14 last year.
Ashok Kumar Ghosh, chairman of Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), told this newspaper on Tuesday that the board will keep a check on use of non-biodegradable materials during the election.
“The posters made of plastic sheets, PVC flex and big cut-outs of leaders of political parties during electioneering are hazardous for environment. Their disposal is never done properly. Hence, these materials choke drains and rivers besides producing toxic fumes when burned,” Ghosh said.
PVC flexes are generally rich in dioxins and termed as environmentally damaging plastic by Greenpeace USA, a non-government organisation. World Health Organisation had also stated in one of its reports that dioxins are chemical pollutants that enter the food chain and get accumulated in human body, causing reproductive problems, cancer and damaging the immune system.
A division bench of Kerala HC had on Monday banned use of flex boards and observed that only eco-friendly materials should be used in electioneering by the political parties. The court had passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one B S Shyam Kumar.
Patna DM-cum-district electoral officer Kumar Ravi had told reporters on Monday that the administration would send notices to all political parties soon, asking them not to use non-biodegradable materials during electioneering.
Traders dealing with posters and banners have also started replacing plastic and PVC sheets with rexine, an artificial leather, while making posters and banners.
Ranjeet Kumar, a shopkeeper on Beer Chand Patel Path, told this newspaper on Tuesday that since plastic sheets are banned in state, poster and banner makers have shifted to rexin, which can be recycled.
“Even giant cut-outs of political leaders are being made with cardboard, which is eco-friendly,” Ranjeet added.
Political parties are also taking steps to follow the directives of the ECI. “As an alternative to plastic posters and PVC flex, we use cloth and thick paper or cardboard as base material,” BJP state campaign committee convener Baidyanath Raman said.
Acting on a recommendation of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked all political parties on February 26 to avoid the use of plastic and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets for making posters and banners. Plastic and PVC sheets are non-biodegradable in nature and pose a threat to the ecological balance.
The state government has already banned plastic bags and plastic sheets of all sizes and thickness in urban areas since December 14 last year.
Ashok Kumar Ghosh, chairman of Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), told this newspaper on Tuesday that the board will keep a check on use of non-biodegradable materials during the election.
“The posters made of plastic sheets, PVC flex and big cut-outs of leaders of political parties during electioneering are hazardous for environment. Their disposal is never done properly. Hence, these materials choke drains and rivers besides producing toxic fumes when burned,” Ghosh said.
PVC flexes are generally rich in dioxins and termed as environmentally damaging plastic by Greenpeace USA, a non-government organisation. World Health Organisation had also stated in one of its reports that dioxins are chemical pollutants that enter the food chain and get accumulated in human body, causing reproductive problems, cancer and damaging the immune system.
A division bench of Kerala HC had on Monday banned use of flex boards and observed that only eco-friendly materials should be used in electioneering by the political parties. The court had passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one B S Shyam Kumar.
Patna DM-cum-district electoral officer Kumar Ravi had told reporters on Monday that the administration would send notices to all political parties soon, asking them not to use non-biodegradable materials during electioneering.
Traders dealing with posters and banners have also started replacing plastic and PVC sheets with rexine, an artificial leather, while making posters and banners.
Ranjeet Kumar, a shopkeeper on Beer Chand Patel Path, told this newspaper on Tuesday that since plastic sheets are banned in state, poster and banner makers have shifted to rexin, which can be recycled.
“Even giant cut-outs of political leaders are being made with cardboard, which is eco-friendly,” Ranjeet added.
Political parties are also taking steps to follow the directives of the ECI. “As an alternative to plastic posters and PVC flex, we use cloth and thick paper or cardboard as base material,” BJP state campaign committee convener Baidyanath Raman said.
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