The Sabarimale High Court, which took note of the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in Sabarimale, ordered the opening of the lawsuit under the Wild Animal Protection Act against those who are responsible for ejecting and burning waste in the Hill Temple during the Mandala-Macharavilk.
This was followed by the death of two elephants and the deer after the consumption of plastic waste thrown in the temple. Periyar Tiger Reserve officials have reported that elephants come to the herds to eat garbage, especially empty plastic bags in which the jagges was stored. Other wild animals were often seen how this waste consumed.
The Court, which stated that Sabarimala Sannidhanam is located in the core and critical area of the Western Ghats, and recognized the hotspot of biodiversity to order the court of the director of the tiger reserve to take measures under the law.
It is estimated that the average amount of waste created in Sabarimale during the festival season of the Mandala-Macaravika is 24 tons a day. Many hotels cannot separate food and plastic waste into biodegradable bags for disposal.
The court also ordered that the use of plastics and other biological materials in Sabarimaleo and along the hiking path from memorial to Sannidhanam should be taken by all relevant and appropriate measures against those who violated it.
For storing or issuing plastics in any form of commercial facilities in Sabarimale and the surrounding areas, including a trekking path to Sannidhanam, forest officials must be selected by forest officials for the first offense and closing for subsequent crimes.
The Travancore Devaswom Council (TDB) through the executive official of Sabarimala must close the equipment committed for the third time, she said.
The court ordered TDB to politely inform pilgrims, including those who come from other states to exclude plastic materials during the pilgrimage. For information of pilgrims, advice must be published for this purpose.
Published – May 23, 2025 21:47
