Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state government and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to prohibit sale of toys, plastic utensils, bangles and materials other than basic necessities at Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilakkal and on the trekking route from Pampa to Sannidhanam.
The court also prohibited hawkers from selling articles in these areas. A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Sunil Thomas asked the authorities to strictly enforce the order. Sabarimala Commissioner K Babu had suggested that it would be better to prohibit use of plastic.
According to him, the premises of Sabarimala had become like commercial centres. Hence it was high time to stop commercialisation in the premises.
The Bench directed TDB to specify the goods permitted to be sold by the vendors in the stalls auctioned as ‘Other stalls’.
“It shall be ensured that no material substance or items are permitted to be sold through the 'other stalls' except which are required as basic necessities in connection with the pilgrimage,” the court observed.
It had been reported that throwing of plastics in the forest area had resulted in endangering wildlife.
The Bench also urged the authorities to give maximum publicity to the Punyam-Poonkavanam project in all places where pilgrims converged for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
