Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 8: With Independence Day celebrations around the corner, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has urged government and private institutions and the public to refrain from using national flags made of plastic during major national, cultural and sporting events.

The advisory follows directions issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to all State governments under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India, 2002, along with amendments made in 2021 and 2022.

The public has been specifically advised against using prohibited plastic flags during Independence Day celebrations, including plastic flags attached to plastic sticks. Instead, flags made of paper and cloth, with wooden or paper sticks, should be used.

The KSPCB has also called for a ban on the use of single-use plastic items during Independence Day celebrations and other public events.

The items to be avoided include plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic festoons, flex materials, plastic flags, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic spoons and straws. The list also covers 01-20 micron cling film, plastic sheets used for covering dining tables, and products made from thermocol and plastic microbeads.

The directions are aimed at ensuring that national flags are handled in accordance with the prescribed regulations while also reducing plastic waste generated during public celebrations.

An environmental officer of the KSPCB, in a release, urged institutions and the public to comply with the directions and opt for environmentally friendly alternatives while celebrating Independence Day.