The Election Commission is determined to take the environment-friendly route in conducting elections in the five states in coming months. While announcing the election schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa, chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the EC has laid emphasis on promotion of environment-friendly practices and urged political parties to avoid using environmentally hazardous material like plastic in their campaigns.

He also stressed that the commission is concerned about noise pollution during elections. Widespread and flagrant use of loudspeakers will be discouraged as noise pollution is a big problem during elections and it disturbs students, patients, and the public in general, said Zaidi. He added that use of loudspeakers will not be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am.