Despite govt ban, sale of plastic Tricolour rampant in city

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 23

Although the Centre has banned the sale of plastic flags, their sale goes on unabated in the city. The Centre banned the use of national flags made of plastic in 2016 keeping in view that plastic products are non-biodegradable, hence cause harm to the environment.

Ahead of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs recently issued an advisory to the states and Union Territories, asking them to ensure strict compliance of the Flag Code and The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.

Stationery shops and migrants selling plastic flags at traffic lights are a common sight these days.

One of the stationery shop owners on College Road, who was selling plastic flags, said he was not aware of any such ban. “The supplier concerned has given me these and I had displayed them at the counter for sale. The unsold flags will be returned to him,” he said.

Environmentalists have been regularly raising the issue and showing concern about the use of plastic things. “Besides being a threat to the environment, plastic flags cause disrespect to national honour as these do not tear up easily and are also non bio-degradable. Flags used during events and functions need to be disposed of in private with proper dignity. But it is often seen that these are discarded and thrown on the ground after the event is over, thus causing disrespect to national honour,” said Gursharan Singh Sandhu, a senior citizen, who regularly takes up environmental issues.