Court Imposes Blanket Ban on 28 Plastic Items in Western Ghats

Bench directs local bodies to provide disposable paper covers free of cost to traders; authorities told to ensure supply of potable water through water ATMs and RO plants

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

The Madras HC has imposed a blanket ban on 28 plastic items, including pet bottles, cups, tumblers, plates, carry bags and plastic films used for food wrapping, throughout the Western Ghats, from the Nilgiris to the Agathiyar Biosphere in Kanniyakumari district.

A special division bench of justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the orders recently on the petitions seeking to ban plastic bottles and other such products which harm the environment.

"The manufacture, storage, supply, transport, sale and distribution of the 28 items are banned throughout the Western Ghats, sanctuaries and tiger reserves, starting from the Nilgiris up to the Agathiyar Biosphere in Kanniyakumari district, which includes the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal hill areas," the bench said in the order.