Kohima, February 1 (MTNews): The Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, V. Shashank Shekhar IAS has informed to all political parties and candidates that the Election Commission of India has been urging all the political candidates to avoid single-use plastic and non-biodegradable materials in their election campaign activities.
In this connection, the commission has instructed again that all parties should take adequate steps and measures not to use single-use plastic as campaign materials (posters, banners etc) during the elections in the interest of human health and environment.
Plastic waste management Amendment Rules, 2021 was notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change on August 12 and has been circulated to all CEOs asking them to bring it to the notice of all stakeholders including candidates and political parties.
Further, National Green Tribunal has also asked all concerned for close monitoring of Election Commission of India instructions in this regard.
Besides, based on the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2021, the Government of Nagaland has also imposed a “Ban on Single -use Plastic in Nagaland” with a view to eradicate the menace of plastic and serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of plastics. In this regard, a District Task Force has also already been constituted in the respective District to monitor and function as Squads for vigilance purposes.