The Nilgiris district administration has announced that the ban on the sale of plastic water bottles, soft drinks and food items packed in plastic wrappers being sold along the highways leading to the district’s major towns will come into full force from August 15.
In a press release, the administration said that the ban had to be enforced due to a high court order, which had sought to prevent plastic waste from being dumped inside forests and public spaces in the district.
Meeting held
The district administration said that merchants’ associations along with business owners had been part of a meeting organised to inform them about the ban.
Shops located near the district check-posts, as well as along major State and national highways, as well as hotels and restaurants have been told that plastic bottles, soft drinks and items wrapped in plastic are not to be sold.
Moreover, in order to ensure that drinking water is available to tourists, the district administration said that efforts are being taken to set up drinking water fountains and kiosks where people will get access to clean water.