Mangaluru: With Independence Day approaching, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has urged government and private institutions, organisations and the public to avoid using plastic national flags during Independence Day celebrations and other national, cultural and sporting events.
The advisory has been issued in line with directions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India, 2002, including amendments introduced in 2021 and 2022.
The KSPCB has emphasised that national flags should be used and disposed of respectfully while celebrations should also minimise the generation of plastic waste.
Plastic flags prohibited during celebrations
The pollution control board has specifically advised people against using plastic flags, including small national flags attached to plastic sticks, during Independence Day programmes.
Instead, organisers and members of the public have been advised to use flags made of paper or cloth. Where sticks are required, wooden or paper alternatives have been recommended.
The advisory is particularly relevant to schools, colleges, government offices, private establishments, resident welfare associations and organisations that distribute small flags to participants during national celebrations.
The directions are intended to ensure that the national flag is treated with dignity and handled according to the prescribed regulations.
Single-use plastic items also discouraged
Along with plastic flags, the KSPCB has called for the avoidance of single-use plastic products during Independence Day celebrations and other public events.
The list of items to be avoided includes plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic festoons and flex materials.
Plastic plates, cups, spoons and straws have also been included in the advisory.
The board has further urged people to avoid 01-20 micron cling film, plastic sheets used to cover dining tables and products made from thermocol and plastic microbeads.
The restrictions are aimed at reducing the volume of plastic waste generated during public gatherings and celebrations.
Environment-friendly alternatives suggested
The KSPCB has urged institutions and the public to choose environmentally friendly alternatives while organising Independence Day programmes.
Paper and cloth flags can be used instead of plastic flags, while reusable or biodegradable alternatives can be considered for serving food and beverages at public events.
Organisers have also been encouraged to plan celebrations in a manner that reduces unnecessary disposable material and ensures proper collection and disposal of waste generated during programmes.
Rules cover national flag handling
The advisory comes ahead of Independence Day, when large numbers of national flags are commonly distributed at schools, offices, public functions and residential communities.
The KSPCB has stressed that the national flag should not be treated as a disposable decoration. Compliance with the Flag Code and related legal provisions is intended to ensure that the Tricolour is displayed, handled and disposed of appropriately.
Plastic flags can also create an environmental problem because they are difficult to manage after celebrations and can remain in the environment for long periods.
The use of paper and cloth alternatives can therefore help address both concerns — respecting the national flag and reducing plastic pollution.
Appeal to institutions and public
An environmental officer of the KSPCB, in a release, urged government departments, private institutions, organisers and members of the public to follow the directions while celebrating Independence Day.
The board called for responsible participation in national celebrations and encouraged people to adopt environmentally friendly alternatives.
With Independence Day celebrations scheduled across Karnataka, authorities are expected to encourage compliance with the advisory at public events, educational institutions and government establishments.
The KSPCB has reiterated that celebrations can be conducted with patriotic spirit while also protecting the environment and ensuring that the national flag is handled with the dignity it deserves.
