Parties pass the buck on flex use

Each political party wants the other to avoid PVC flex to take the initiative.

“We want to avoid PVC flex but all others should also come on board. We had taken the initiative to avoid PVC Flex boards in some of the previous elections but others refused to follow suit. If we keep off flex boards and others use them extensively, then LDF would be left far behind in the propaganda affecting our electoral prospects,” said LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswan.

Environment Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is for a common consensus among political parties on controlling the use of PVC flex.

“We had brought certain restrictions on use of PVC flex. But at that time many issues cropped up like most of the units engaged in flex are small scale ones and they had taken huge loans. A blanket ban had led to major problem. However, it would be ideal if all political parties come to some kind of understanding on reducing its use,” he added.

BJP and its government had launched the Swachch Bharat campaign across the nation last year to check envionrment degradation. However, the state unit of the BJP is not keen to take any such lead in environment protection activities in the state.

“We cannot take a unilateral decision on saying no to PVC flex boards. Let the other parties also implement it not just in words but on the ground. I assure you that BJP will not use these hazardous propaganda material,” said BJP state president V Muraleedharan.

The UDF Government had decided to ban PVC flex boards in October 2014. At that time chief minister Oommen Chandy had categorically stated that the ban would be enforced strictly during election period.

However, within a month the government was forced to withdraw the ban following opposition from the flex industry.