HC orders action under Wildlife Protection Act against people dumping, burning waste at Sabarimala

Taking note of the indiscriminate dumping of garbage at Sabarimala, the Kerala High Court has ordered initiation of action under the Wildlife Protection Act against those responsible for dumping and burning waste at the hill temple during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season.

This followed the death of two elephants and a deer after consuming plastic waste dumped on the temple premises. Periyar Tiger Reserve officials had submitted a report that elephants were coming in herds to eat garbage, especially empty plasticbags in which jaggery had been stored. Other wild animals too were often seen consuming this waste.

Stating that the Sabarimala Sannidhanam was situated in a core and critical area of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot recognised as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the court directed the Deputy Director of the tiger reserve to take action under the provisions of the Act.

It is estimated that the average quantity of waste generated at Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season is 24 tonnes a day. Many hotels fail to segregate food and plastic waste into biodegradable bags for disposal.

The court also directed that the ban on use of plastic and other bio-hazardous materials at Sabarimala and along the trekking path from Pampa to the Sannidhanam ought to be implemented scrupulously by all concerned and appropriate action be taken against those who violated it.

For stocking or dispensing plastic in any form by commercial establishments at Sabarimala and surrounding areas, including the trekking path to the Sannidhanam, a fine of ₹2,000 shall be levied by forest officials for the first offence, ₹5,000 for the second offence, and closure of the establishment for subsequent offences.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), through the Executive Officer, Sabarimala, must close down the establishment which committed such an offence for the third time, it said.

The court directed the TDB to politely inform pilgrims, including those coming from other States, to exclude plastic materials during the pilgrimage. An advisory to this effect must be published on the virtual-Q platform, for the information of the pilgrims, it added.