Hyderabad High Court urges plastic ban in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh shrines

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday urged that both the AP and Telangana states should take initiation on the ban of plastic usage at shrines in their respective states.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhatt said, “It is time to take necessary actions to implement the Environmental Act and other prevailing Acts to protect the environment and also punish the violators with heavy penalties.”

The bench asked that both state governments should immediately issue necessary directions to the Endowment Department as per the Acts and also suggested that guidelines should be made so that people can co-operate within the framework of law.

The bench was hearing suo-motto cases in connection with difficulties to pilgrims and deficiencies in the management of hygiene at various shrines following a request from the Supreme Court with regard to conditions at temples and shrines in the states. While hearing the PILs, the bench reminding the states of the earlier conditions at Sabarimala and Pamba River, pointed out that after initiation of the Kerala High Court of appropriate enactments, conditions were bettered in the lessening of usage of plastic.

The bench felt that similar enactments were required in AP and Telangana states and said the Environmental Protection Act provide delegation of certain powers to the state governments to enable them to ban usage of plastic.