NAVI MUMBAI: Environmentalists have raised the issue on the use of polyester/nylon material to make the tricolour, instead of Khadi, which is eco-friendly.
This has come up amid NMMC’s decision to purchase 80,000 national flags for theHar Ghar Tiranga mission. Moreover, around 2 lakh more flags will be acquired through CSR for public distribution.
``While it is good that the government is keen to see the tricolour in every house, the flags should ideally be made of khadi as it is not as damaging to the environment as polyester. There are several khadi handloom units which could have provided the stock for this purpose,'' said Navi Mumbai-based environmentalist B N Kumar.
Municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar informed, ``Since the central government recently changed the Flag Code, we have used polyester material to quickly make so many flag orders. While 80,000 flags will be purchased, around 2 lakh flags will be acquired through corporate social responsibility.'' Bangar added that the flags will be distributed in Gaothan areas, lower income group colonies, besides other areas.
RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan commented: ``Every year during Independence Day and Republic Day, we notice how the flags of various sizes are discarded after the celebrations are over. We hope that the same is not repeated this year. Also, polyester is non-biodegradable.''
