The Uttarakhand High Court has instructed a petitioner challenging single-use plastic pollution to submit a formal representation to the state’s chief secretary for executive consideration.
Judicial Directions And Petition Background
A division bench comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit issued the order during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation. The legal action addresses growing environmental degradation linked to non-biodegradable items left behind by visitors, mountaineers, and pilgrims across Uttarakhand.
Environmental Impact On Sensitive Zones
Social activist and retired Ayurvedic physician Ashutosh Pant initiated the lawsuit, citing widespread contamination across rivers, streams, forests, alpine meadows, and glaciers. According to the petition, tourists routinely transport food and supplies in plastic packaging, leading to heavy waste accumulation in ecologically fragile areas and holy sites.
Proposed Regulatory Measures
To prevent further ecological harm, the petition requests the appointment of designated monitoring officers. These officials would oversee activities like bhandaras, or community feasts, as well as tourist routes, ensuring travelers carry back all wrappers, empty water bottles, and packaging rather than abandoning them on site.
