State election commission issued green guideline for panchayat election

On Saturday West Bengal state election commission issued a detailed guideline for political parties to ensure that the ensuing panchayat election remains eco-friendly with emphasis on plastic waste management and controlling blaring microphones.

The guideline, a copy of which is with The Plurals, has been sent to all district panchayat officers and district magistrates; asking them to communicate it to “all candidates and political parties” for compliance.

“All candidates/ political parties should take adequate steps and measures to not use plastic as campaign materials (posters, banners etc.) during the election in the interest of human health and environment (and) disposal of campaign materials should be done by the candidates/ political parties within three days after the poll day” reads the notice signed by secretary of the commission.

The guideline also stated that “indiscriminate and unfettered use of loud speakers at odd hours and at odd places at very high volume cannot be allowed” and directed that the microphone use for campaigning should be done “only between 8 am and 10 pm”; and should conclude 48 hours prior to the end of poll. The commission has asked local authorities and police to strictly enforce the norms.

Earlier several green groups have written to political parties, state election commission, state pollution control board demanding that environmental norms should be maintained during election campaigning.

While the green lobby has generally welcomed the latest guidelines; they opined that few important points have been left out; and vowed to write soon to the commission urging modification.

“We welcome the latest direction, and now it’s the responsibility of the administration to implement the norms. However, the guidelines, as per supreme court order, should have barred use of fireworks; a common practice after any candidate winning the election” , said Biswajit Mukherjee, a former chief law officer of state PCB and president of non profit Paribesh Academy. Mukherjee opined that green generators should also be used in major campaign meetings.

“We have also urged the candidates in panchayat elections to toe the norms about microphone and plastic use during campaigning,” added the expert.

“The guideline should include the mandatory use of sound limiters in microphone as per the national green tribunal and state PCB order” observed Naba Dutta, secretary of Sabuj Mancha, an environmental platform consisting of close to 50 green organisations across the state.

The platform has recently released a green manifesto highlighting the critical environmental issues impacting rural Bengal that hardly get a mention in the campaign.