THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While major political parties do not lose any opportunity to boast about their commitment to environment protection, when it comes to election campaign they go all out for competitive use of flex boards and plastic propaganda material causing extensive damage to ecology .
Prior to the local bodies’ poll held in November last year, the State Election Commissioner appealed earnestly to political partes to avoid flex. Initially they responded positively but as the campaign picked up, flex boards started appearing in every nook and corner.
According to noted environmentalist RVG Menon there should be a strict direction from EC to restrict the use of dangerous material. Instructions and appeals from other quarters may not yield the desired results since political parties bank too much on flex boards.
Experts say small scale and large-scale flex industry do a booming business during election campaign period. Moreover, thousands of workers earn their livelihood working in this sector. Therefore a complete ban on use of such material may not be feasible.
Every political party is willing to restrict use of PVC flex provided their rivals also take a similar initiative. “We are keen to avoid PVC flex boards but what about others. There should be level playing field when it comes to campaigning.
As of now we have not given any direction, we would like to avoid such material if there is a consensus,” said CPI state assistant secretary Prakash Babu.
Even BJP which launched Swachch Bharat campaign across the country is hesitant to speak openly against use of flex boards and plastic material. Senior BJP leaders say that they would avoid hazardous campaign if other parties too come on board.
Congress leader K Sivadasan Nair believes that evolving a consensus on the issue is next to impossible. “Ideally the EC should come out with strict instructions. Only such direction will be binding on political parties,” he added.
Experts fear that unrestricted use of flex boards and plastic material for a long duration poll campaign which will last almost a month and a half, could wreak havoc with the state’s environment.
