Ahead of upcomig state polls, Election Commission pushes for eco-friendly campaigns

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Ahead of meeting polls in 5 states, the Election Commission has expressed concern over the usage of non-biodegradable supplies for campaigning and urged political events to keep away from plastic and polythene for making posters and banners.

The ballot panel has come out with consolidated directions issued by it from 1999 onwards on making election marketing campaign “eco-friendly”.

In a letter to presidents of all recognised nationwide and state events on August 18, the ballot panel stated, “In today’s world, the environmental concerns have become more significant. Election Commission is also very concerned with the issue of environment hazards caused by use of non-biodegradable materials in elections.”

The fee identified that since 1999, it has been urging all political events and candidates to keep away from the usage of plastic and polythene for preparation of posters, banners throughout election marketing campaign.

“Protecting the environment is not an individual task but a collective responsibility and hence the Election Commission urges all the political parties to avoid the use of plastic/polythene and similar non-biodegradable materials for preparation of posters, banners during election campaign in the interest of environment and human health,” the letter stated.

In one in every of its directions issued in February, 2019, the ballot panel had stated that a whole lot of the campaigning materials together with posters, cut-outs, hoardings, banners, and political ads is product of plastic.

After the elections, the campaigning materials is discarded and turns into waste.

“Such single-use plastic waste generated during campaigning does not get collected and causes choking of drainage and river systems, ingestion by stray animals…leading to adverse impacts on human health and environment,” it had famous.

It cautioned that a few of these plastics are poly vinyl chloride (PVC) based mostly, which produces poisonous emissions on burning.

“A number of alternative options to use of plastic in campaigning material are available such as compostable plastics, natural fabrics, and recycled paper material, which have a lesser environmental impact. Such materials need to be promoted as a sustainable and environmentally sound management practice,” it had stated.

NEW DELHI: Ahead of meeting polls in 5 states, the Election Commission has expressed concern over the usage of non-biodegradable supplies for campaigning and urged political events to keep away from plastic and polythene for making posters and banners.

The ballot panel has come out with consolidated directions issued by it from 1999 onwards on making election marketing campaign “eco-friendly”.

In a letter to presidents of all recognised nationwide and state events on August 18, the ballot panel stated, “In today’s world, the environmental concerns have become more significant. Election Commission is also very concerned with the issue of environment hazards caused by use of non-biodegradable materials in elections.”googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

The fee identified that since 1999, it has been urging all political events and candidates to keep away from the usage of plastic and polythene for preparation of posters, banners throughout election marketing campaign.

“Protecting the environment is not an individual task but a collective responsibility and hence the Election Commission urges all the political parties to avoid the use of plastic/polythene and similar non-biodegradable materials for preparation of posters, banners during election campaign in the interest of environment and human health,” the letter stated.

In one in every of its directions issued in February, 2019, the ballot panel had stated that a whole lot of the campaigning materials together with posters, cut-outs, hoardings, banners, and political ads is product of plastic.

After the elections, the campaigning materials is discarded and turns into waste.

“Such single-use plastic waste generated during campaigning does not get collected and causes choking of drainage and river systems, ingestion by stray animals…leading to adverse impacts on human health and environment,” it had famous.

It cautioned that a few of these plastics are poly vinyl chloride (PVC) based mostly, which produces poisonous emissions on burning.

“A number of alternative options to use of plastic in campaigning material are available such as compostable plastics, natural fabrics, and recycled paper material, which have a lesser environmental impact. Such materials need to be promoted as a sustainable and environmentally sound management practice,” it had stated.