Poll campaign goes green in Bengal

With the state pollution control board tightening the noose, political parties have adopted eco-friendly measures during campaign for the Assembly polls in West Bengal this time.

As party workers went round soliciting votes, they kept in mind people’s sensitivity about environment by obeying the restrictions on the use of loudspeakers, avoiding use of plastics in making party flags and using only diesel generator sets during power cuts, PCB officials said.

Days ahead of the fourth round of the six-phase poll, the pollution watchdog has not received any complaint against violation of its green guidelines issued to all 24 political parties after the campaigning began early last month.

“There have been no complaints because the High Court and the Election Commission supported us when some political parties threatened to go against our guidelines in using loudspeakers,” the West Bengal Pollution Control Board chief law officer, Mr Biswajit Mukherjee, told PTI.

Also, none of the candidates wanted to attract voter’s ire by polluting the environment, he said.

During election campaign, rampant use of loudspeakers by all parties result in noise pollution while a huge quantity of waste materials are generated from the preparation of flags, festoons, banners, etc. which cause environmental hazards.

But with an increased awareness on environmental issues this election season, politicians adopted the ‘Go Green’ mantra. Besides following the 55-65 decibel limit while using loudspeakers, the main Opposition party Trinamool Congress even introduced banners made from biodegradable jute.

“Ours is a complete eco-friendly campaign as we avoided the use of plastics as much as we could. We are the first political party in West Bengal to have adopted jute for roadside banners.

“Even while using paper for making posters, we didn’t cross the limits advised,” said Mr Madan Mitra, a party candidate from Kamarhati constituency in North 24-Parganas district.

The BJP state secretary, Mr Ritesh Tiwari, said that they used flags made of cloth this time.

“Although there was no ban on the use of plastic, we followed the advice of the authorities and made sure we do not use any plastic while campaigning,” he said.

Ruling CPI-M’s central committee member and the State Housing Minister, Mr Gautam Deb, said that their campaigning didn’t have any adverse affect on the environment.

“As law-abiding citizens, we’ve followed the existing guidelines and there has been no violation from our side,” he said.

Many parties took halls and auditoriums on rent for campaigning while avoiding parks and grounds. Others used hand mikes, which cause less noise pollution.

To control sound pollution during election campaign, the WBPCB guidelines had restricted the use of loudspeakers with sound limiter in the amplifier, prohibition in using any public address system at night and during board examinations.

Besides asking them to carry a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate in each vehicle used in electioneering, political parties were also asked to use green diesel generator sets during power cuts for prevention and control of air and noise pollution.

The board had also restricted poll meetings in designated children’s parks and gardens and asked them not to use trees to fix banners or flags.

“Just because there have been no official complaints, we cannot claim that there has been zero violation. But we are sure that this is the least polluting election in the recent years,” the WBPCB official said.

After the elections in all the constituencies are over, parties have been asked to collect all biodegradable waste used in campaigning and send it for recycling to their respective municipalities.

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