Date:14/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081450840200.htm

Kerala

Concern over sale of plastic tricolour

As the tricolour made of plastic flutters on cars and in households on Independence Day, spare a thought for the environment.

People have voiced concern about the impact of plastic on the environment. “A huge mass of plastic waste is generated as plastic flags. Other plastic materials used for decorations are dumped on the roads and streets after the celebrations,̶ 1; Prof. Sitaraman, an environmentalist and District Coordinator of the National Green Corps (NGC), an initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, told TheHindu

The NGC has been launched to create awareness of environment among students and masses.

S.D. Jayaprasad, member-secretary, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, said lab tests have to be conducted to verify whether the flags were made of poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or Polyethylene (PE). “If they are made of PVC, they are banned under the existing orders,” he said. This is because PVC under high temperature emits poisonous gases.C.K. Manisankar said as these flags met the thickness standard specified by the Court for plastic articles, there was hardly anything the Corporation could do to stop their sale other than creating awareness about its use.

M.P. Praveen