Use of plastic in poll campaign to be curtailed

Guwahati, Mar 22 (UNI) The Election Commission(EC) has directed all political parties to refrain from using plastic and polythene in their poll campaign.

The use of plastic was detrimental to the environment and would create problems in its safe disposal after the campaign ended, the EC said.

Last Lok Sabha elections in Asom saw large-scale use of plastic banners and posters. As banners and posters in plastic were more durable and could be produced in bulk at lesser expense compared to the conventional cloth, political parties switched on to it in haste.

Environment hazards rose due to this trend.

The political parties have received the EC directive in good spirit.

Congress spokesperson Bobeeta Sharma said, ''We have received the EC directive and will comply with it as much as possible. We have already put up banners and posters made of cloth.'' Asom Gana Parishad spokesperson Dilip Saikia said the party was looking into the matter and would take steps to follow it.

The public has welcomed the direction to minimise the use of plastic in the campaign.

Mr Swapan Talukdar, a resident of R G Baruah Road in the city, said plastic banners and posters are a menace to the public. The cloth banners wear out but these plastic ones, if not removed, continue to hang for a long time.

Mrs Mitali Khound, a housewife, said plastic posters also block the drainage system and may add to the problem of artificial floods in the city with the monsoons round the corner.

UNI SG PL RP PC1516