After ordering the authorities to ensure that the Girnar hills and Girnar eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) remain plastic free, the Gujarat high court on Tuesday issued notice to the authorities concerned over a request to make Dwarka and Bet Dwarka plastic- free.
Petitioner advocate Amit Panchal requested the court to act on a local environment group’s demand to make the area, particularly local waterbodies and coastal areas, plastic free. He urged the HC to demand an explanation from the authorities about their failure to make the area pollution-free, which is mandated by constitutional provisions. The HC later issued a notice to the Okha municipality and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
Meanwhile, regarding efforts to make Girnar hills and the ESZ of the sanctuary plastic free, the HC sought an affidavit from the secretary of the forest department on the progress made in the declaration of the zonal master plan in Girnar ESZ. The court found the Junagadh municipal commissioner’s response on recycling of plastic collected from Girnar ESZ insufficient. The municipal corporation, therefore, sought more time to file a better affidavit. The Junagadh district collector has been asked to keep a close watch on steps taken by the monitoring committee to make the area plastic-free.
Source: Timesofindia
