The National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone, Kolkata has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Urban Development Secretary and the State Pollution Control Board seeking their reply on the alleged piling of plastic wastes in the Gupteswar Temple area in Koraput district.
Social worker Bidyut Mohanty had filed a petition at the NGT alleging that concerned authorities have not taken steps for implementation of the Plastic Waste Management and Handling rules 2011 at the temple area.
Hearing the petition, the NGT had on August 31 directed the three to submit action taken report within three weeks.
Sankar Prasad Pani, counsel for the petitioner, argued that Gupteswar being ecologically sensitive area and being one of the biodiversity rich area in the eastern ghat should be protected against the indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic wastes.
The petitioner further contended that use of polythene has adversely affected the local tribal people who are eking out their livelihood from selling leaf plates which are now replaced with thermo cool/plastic disposable plates, cups and bowls.
Apart from creating health problems, plastic materials create nuisance and aesthetic problems in a beautiful place like Gupteswar Cave. Further all these plastic wastes are entering the Saberi river and polluting its water.
Plastic rules restrict manufacturing and use of polythene carry bags and multi-layered packaging material bellow 40 micron thickness and ban plastic packaging of gutkha and tobacco materials. However this standard is not at all being adhered to in the State.
The petitioner prayed before the NGT to direct the State Government to declare the Gupteswar Temple area and other important tourist places of Koraput distrct as plastic-free zone and enforce the Plastic rules in letter and spirit.
The notice has also been issued to the Koraput district Collector, Divisional Forest Officer, Jeypore and Tourism Department Secretary.