Team Herald
PANJIM: As the election campaigns for the Lok Sabha polls and by-elections in three assembly constituencies begins, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Goa has directed all the political parties and candidates to make use of eco-friendly substances for canvassing.
The notification for the polls, to be held on April 23, will be issued on March 28.
Addressing media persons on Tuesday, North District Election Officer IAS R Menaka said that following directions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), political parties and their contesting candidates are directed to make use of biodegradable material for preparing election publicity materials.
“As per ECI directions, the political parties are asked to make no or minimum use of plastic and other non biodegradable material with concern to environment,” she said.
ECI is of the view that considering the long-term deleterious impact of materials such as plastics, polythene on the life-giving and life-sustaining environment, the parties are expected to make use of eco-friendly substances for preparing election campaign material.
The move is after National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the ECI to work towards imposing ban on non-degradable materials in election campaigns.
Speaking about the election preparedness for the North Goa parliamentary constituency, Menaka said that it comprises of total 20 assembly constituencies that is 19 from North and one (Priol) from South Goa.
Along with North Goa, the assembly constituencies of Mandrem, Mapusa will go for polls.
The total number of eligible voters are 5,53,206, which comprises of 2,69,366 male voters and 2,83,840 female voters as per the final electoral publication in February. There are 110 service voters and 11 overseas electors.
The constituency will have 842 polling stations -700 rural and 142 urban, with average electoral per polling booth being 657.
