Plastic flags/banners of pol parties; ensure no damage to

The Madras High Court today said it is the responsibility of local bodies to set up collection centres for plastic flags/banners of political parties for the May 16 assembly elections and directed municipal authorities to ensure no damage is caused to the environment in the polls.
"It is the responsibility of the municipal authority for setting up collection centres and co-ordination of the plastic waste management system and also ensure no damage is caused to the environment in the ensuing elections in which political parties use plastic flags and other plastic materials," the court said.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, was passing orders on a PIL filed by advocate A P Suryaprakasam, after perusing the counter affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

The petitioner had sought a direction to the authorities, including the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission of India to debar political parties using plastic flags and banners and disqualify their candidates from contesting the May 16 assembly polls.
TNPCB in its counter suggested that plastic manufacturers making flags/banners comply with Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 as amended to prevent plastic waste.
Each plastic flag/plastic banner should be more than 40 microns thickness, carry registration number of the maker as per the amended rules obtained from the respective State Pollution Control Board.

TNPCB also suggested that necessary action be taken against the third party, if plastic flag/banner do not carry registration number and do not conform to the thickness of 40 microns and it be removed immediately.

After the poll, all flags/banners should be collected by local bodies and handed over to the respective collection centre/recyclers in their vicinity for proper cleaning and for further scientific disposal.
TNPCB made it clear that local bodies shall ensure that open burning of plastic waste does not take place.
The bench also recorded the statement of the Election Commission that it needs two weeks to issue necessary advise to all authorities concerned as the issue is not confined only to the current state elections in Tamil Nadu but even in the other states also to issue comprehensive directions and closed the PIL.