Parties begin 'green initiatives' in earnest

Kochi: Acting on elections promises, political parties are in a race to spread the green message. For starters, they have started removing all flex boards right from the day after polls.
The CPM Ernakulam district committee has decided to remove all flex material, posters and paintings from public places. The party is planning to recycle the flex material and use them as grow bags.
P T Thomas, who contested from Thrikkakkara, had mostly used cloth banners across the constituency.He has already removed flex hoardings from half the constituency a day after the election.
"The party has always been environment-friendly. Like we did after local body elections, all flex boards, hoardings will be removed. Walls painted for the campaign by the party will be whitewashed. The message has been communicated to all CPM branches in the district and work has already begun," CPM district committee secretary P Rajeeve said.
The party has decided to utilise these flex material in an effective green manner. Non-degradable flex material will be converted into grow bags and supplied through cooperative societies. "Rest of the flex will be disposed in a scientific manner," he added.
The 'green' project was formally inaugurated on Wednesday at Kalamassery. And the party is hopeful to complete the process in a week. Thrikkakara UDF candidate P T Thomas had mostly used cloth banners in his constituency.
"Almost 250 flex boards and 300 cloth banners have been removed. Flex boards and hoardings put up in areas such as Kadavanthra, Vyttila and Vennala have been removed. We plan to finish the entire process in a week," said Thomas.
"The flex that we remove will be given back to the seller. They have agreed to dispose it scientifically. Many of it will also be recycled for other purposes," he added. However, sources with BJP said that they have no such plans as of now.