Kochi: Kerala High Court on Wednesday banned the use of plastic in Sabarimala. The court, however, permitted the pilgrims to use bottled drinking water till the end of the current season considering the difficulty in supplying it.
The court imposed the ban pursuant to a report filed by the Pollution Control Board which pointed out several instances of plastic waste menace. A division bench comprising Justice Thott-athil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Shivaraman also asked the authorities, including Travancore Devaswom Board, to strictly enforce the plastic ban.
Recording the submission of the state and TDB on the difficulty in providing drinking water to the pilgrims along the trekking path and sannidhanam, the court permitted the pilgrims to use plastic bottles till January 20.
Earlier, the court had sought the stand of authorities on imposing a ban. Deputy Director, Periyar West Division, Peerumedu, informed the court that plastic waste was found even in the deep forest. In one such incident, plastic waste was found inside the body of an elephant.
