Sudden ban on flex creates havoc in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh state government has imposed a ban on the use of flex materials on hoardings and other advertising units in the state, acting upon an order issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that informs that chloride content found in PVC flex used for advertising is way above the permissible level. The state government ban on PVC flex has hit hard some 450 media and printing businesses in the state that employ over 8,000 people.

Anand, owner of Kashish Advertising that is based in Chhattisgarh told Media4Growth: “This sudden order has created a dilemma for all the players operating in the state. Most of the printers have set up their units after taking bank loans. This ban will cause a huge business loss to all of them”.

Now, media owners, printers, and machine & material providers in the state have decided to contest the ban. A Raipur based industry association conducted a meeting with the state’s Cabinet ministers. The association has been advised to approach the High Court for relief.

Ashish S Agarwal from ASA Advertising said, “All three concessionaires have come together to safeguard our interests. The flex isn’t causing any harm directly to the environment at any stage while getting mounted or while it is scrapped. We handle the flex and scrap with care. Moreover, there is no other material available in the market which can be used for billboard promotions”.

In the month of November, the state celebrates its Rajyoutsav and state elections are also scheduled for 2018. So, if the ban on flex continues there will be no OOH promotions of both activities.