POLITICAL PARTIES IN KULLU DEFY POLY BAN

27 April 2004, (ANI)

Kullu, Apr 27 (ANI): Political parties in Himachal Pradesh are using publicity materials made of polythene on a large scale though the administration has put a ban on it.



Hilly Kullu district became the country's first to ban the use of all types of polythene bags, last year. Use of bags with polythene content upto 70 microns was banned and

anyone found using the same could face up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of upto 100,000 rupees.



But the general election this year has spelled trouble for the pristine valley. Environmentalists said the state administration should take action against political parties that flout the ban.



'During the elections, polythene is being used on a large scale. This shows that the administration is double-faced. The administration should have treated the political parties in the same manner as the general public,' said Daulat Bharati, an environmentalist.



District officials said that the administration's hands were tied as the ban did not encompass polythene flags.

'The election flags are not poly bags. Hence they do come under that. Secondly, the election code of conduct does not mention anything about polythene. But under the Himachal state law, all polythene upto 20 microns should be banned. These come under this,' R.D. Nazeem, District Collector of Kullu, said.



However, he added that political parties were being dissuaded from using the environment-degrading material.

'We are taking action wherever we are getting information. We are asking political parties to remove them. We have got information that many flags have been removed from Manali,' R.D. Nazeem, District Collector of Kullu, said.



Himachal Pradesh is the first state to ban harmful olythene bags through a legislation introduced in 1995.



The state goes to polls on May 10.(ANI)