The national flags of less than 75 micron density plastic are sold in the city. Where any material including plastic bags with a density of less than 75 microns has been declared banned, the question arises as to how the flag made of banned plastic was covered.
Plastic has now become a primary problem in India.
Aquatic life is endangered today due to plastic pollution in major rivers and streams of India.
Schools, neighborhood intersections, residences, club premises in Bidhannagar and Calcutta areas - wherever the flag was hoisted on the occasion of August 15, small national flags made of plastic were hung in a row with the big flag. Vendors also agree that these flags are made of less than 75 micron density plastic. They claim that they do not have a better quality plastic flag than this.
Walking around the city on Tuesday, chains of small flags made of banned plastic were hanging everywhere. It is the same picture of rule breaking in Baguio's primary school or at the corner of the area. According to Prabir Das, head teacher of that primary school, “Plastic flags have many advantages for decoration. It does not need to be attached to the rope with glue like a paper flag. Its price is also low. Apart from that, the paper flag gets destroyed in the monsoons.” The same argument applies to a club in Shyambazar, North Kolkata. According to club officials, the paper flag is destroyed when it gets wet in the rain.
After the ban of single-use plastic in India by the Indian government, common people are commenting on how the flag of India is made of plastic.
According to flag seller Shubojit Saha, "It is not enough to make people aware. All factories manufacturing such banned plastic flags or products must stop production. People buy what they can get in front of their hands. Plastic flags are cheap. If a chain of 100 small plastic flags costs Rs 60, a paper flag-chain costs Rs 80 or more. As a result, everyone is inclined to save their pockets."
Calcutta Municipality will surely take some action on the Indian national flag made of plastic.
Kolkata Municipal Council Mayor (Environment) Swapan Samaddar also accepted the arbitrary use of the national flag made of banned plastic. In his words, “The use of plastic has reached such a level that it will take time to stop it completely. The Environment Department has just banned the use of plastic with a density of less than 75 microns. I hope that by campaigning, the situation will be changed a lot next year.
Rahima Bibi, mayor of Bidhannagar municipality's environment department, said, "I didn't know that such banned plastic flags were sold! Local councilors will be asked to be vigilant. Wherever plastic flags are installed in Bidhannagar, the fire workers will open them.”
According to environmental activist Subhash Dutt, "Handing over the national flag made of thin plastic to children on Independence Day is a national disaster." All political parties must unite to stop the use of plastic.
Good writing
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