A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday ordered a complete ban on the use of plastic in and around Sabarimala.
The Bench comprising Justice P.R Ramachandra Menon and Justice Devan Ramachandran passed the order on a report filed by the Special Commissioner.
The court also directed the authorities to ensure that the pilgrims did not carry items in plastic in the ‘erumudikettu’. In its report, the Sabarimala Special Commissioner pointed out that the offerings brought in the ‘erumudikettu’ of pilgrims included plastic articles.
The court noted that the combined efforts made by the Devaswom Board, Pollution Control Board and others were not sufficient to curb plastic menace. Therefore, it had ordered a complete ban on plastics in Sabarimala.
The court observed that that it was the bounden duty of the Travacore Devaswom Board to ensure that traders in and around Sabarimala did not sell or bring food articles or other items in plastic cover or sachets and to take stern steps if they violated the court order.
The court ordered the Board and others to start educating and creating awareness of the ban on the plastic use in Sabarimala by giving advertisement in newspapers.
The Bench said the efforts to achieve the goal of making Sabarimala a plastic-free zone should be made in a sensitive manner without creating consternation in the mind of the pilgrims . The court asked the authorities to start the awareness campaign before the start of coming Makaravilakku season.
The court also directed the Forest Department to file a statement regarding the manner in which ₹1 crore made available to it every year for cleaning up the hills was spent during past years. The court said that it would continue to monitor the efforts being adopted by the authorities as the earlier court orders in this regard were not implemented in its full spirit.
The court ordered the Chief Secretary to send the copy of the order to their counterparts in other States.
