 saahil suhail
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 1: Contrary to the directions issued by Forest, Ecology and Environment Ministry, the tourism department in Jammu and Kashmir continue to use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flex banners, hoardings and posters.
On Thursday, the department had installed huge (PVC) flex banners, hoardings and posters at famed tourist spots-Gulmarg and Pahalgam- to welcome the tourists on the eve of New Year celebrations.
The department had also installed these hoardings at few other places in Srinagar and Jammu thus putting the directions issued by the Forest, Ecology and Environment department.
"Tourism department should have obeyed the directions and ensured minimum use of (PVC) flex banners but they didn't and continued its use arbitrarily," an officer told Early Times.
He said that the directions were issued in the month of November last year and the administrative secretaries including the Tourism Department conveyed well in advance.
"Tourism department is duty bound to protect the environment of these famed tourist spots and contribute for making Kashmir valley green and clean however sadly the department is showing least interest," he added
Last month, Additional Secretary to Forest, Ecology and Environment department wrote to all administrative secretaries and Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir asking them to stop single plastic or short life PVC flex for banners and posters.
"In order to combat plastic pollution, reduction in the use of avoidable plastics is necessary. Therefore, use of single use or short life PVC flex for banners and posters in government offices or its functions should be strictly avoided. Alternatives such as cloth banners, lightweight textile fabrics, wrinkle resistant wrap knit, natural-fibre based sandwich boards, etc can be used. Such a step will help in strengthening our national resolve to combat plastic pollution in the country," reads the official communiqué, a copy of which lies with Early Times.
Interestingly, a few days earlier, the district administration in Anantnag district of South Kashmir called for avoiding the use of PVC flex for banners and posters in government offices or in its functions.
"It is impressed upon all the District officers of District Anantnag to ensure that the use of single-use or short life PVC flex for banners and posters in government offices or its functions should be strictly avoided," reads a circular issued by a Deputy Commissioner Anantnag.
The administration on Thursday also removed PVC flex hoardings installed on road dividers in the district, however failed to stop the tourism department from using the banners of PVC flex at Pahalgam. |
