In a significant environmental ruling, the Madras High Court has ordered a ban on 28 types of plastic products within the Western Ghats region, affecting popular tourist destinations like the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. This decision comes as part of an effort to preserve the ecological integrity of this biodiversity hotspot.
The ruling, delivered by Justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chackravarthy, was made in response to petitions led by environmental activist G Subramania Koushik, advocating for stringent measures against pollution in the Ghats. The court’s orders include a ban on PET bottles and various other non-biodegradable items known to cause environmental degradation.
As a critical part of the enforcement, the Tamil Nadu government has been directed to issue a notification under the Motor Vehicles Act. This notification will enforce a condition that no vehicle should engage in the transportation or distribution of the banned plastic items within the designated areas. Vehicles found violating this mandate will be detained, and further actions will be pursued.
In addition to the transportation ban, the court has specified that shop owners and distributors of food consumables wrapped in plastic foils or similar materials must transition to biodegradable packaging. Local bodies have been tasked to facilitate this shift by providing paper covers free of charge, funded through the Green Funds.
The justices also emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate alternative sources of drinking water. They have called on local authorities, including district collectors, to expand the availability of water through innovative solutions like ATMs, RO plants, and other sustainable methods.
