Updated on Feb 28, at 5.30 p.m.

After Gujarat HC slammed Junagadh authorities over actions related to the plastic ban in Girnar, the principal secretary told HC that a total of six teams of officials were formed to execute the plastic ban on Girnar hills.

The teams would be stationed at Girnar’s Ambaji temple, Dattatreya temple, and Datar temple to prohibit travellers and devotees from using plastic.

A meeting of the Gir Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) monitoring committee was held by the Junagadh collector on Feb 23.

During this meeting, authorities decided to impose a complete ban on plastic in the Gir ESZ.

To curb the problem of plastic pollution, the administration has also significantly increased the number of cleaning staff.

Out of the six teams formed for monitoring cleanliness, three teams will regularly patrol the entire Girnar Sanctuary area and the ESZ. Each team will have a supervisor.

Under the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board, teams of 15 cleanliness workers will be allotted at the old and new stairways towards Ambaji temple in Girnar.

Moreover, only glass, clay, and steel water bottles will be allowed in Girnar Sanctuary.

The Gujarat High Court also instructed the government to take the necessary steps with immediate effect and raise awareness about the plastic ban ahead of Maha Shivratri on Mar 8.

To this end, the government assured that even though a large crowd would gather in the Girnar and ESZ areas during Maha Shivratri, complete vigilance will be maintained to ensure that plastic is not carried into the area.

The HC scheduled its next hearing for the end of March.

This hearing stems from a PIL filed by advocate Amit Panchal regarding the unhygienic conditions around temples in Girnar.

Updated on Feb 13, at 9.30 p.m.

The Gujarat High Court on Feb 12 came down heavily on the authorities in Junagadh with regard to an order to ban plastic use on the Girnar hills.

The bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Anirudhha Mayee rejected the affidavit filed by collector of Junagadh saying that it is misleading the court.

The court said that they would pass an order seeking a report from the additional chief secretary of the forest and environment department and warned an inquiry against the functioning of the Junagadh collector for plastic use ban on the grounds of hurting pilgrims’ religious sentiments.

PIL on Girnar hills unhygienic condition

In the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Amit Panchal, the HC assistant government pleader (AGP) submitted that in the previous hearing, the HC had asked about the functioning of the committee for monitoring unhygienic conditions on Girnar hills and around Girnar temples.

The AGP said that in view of the notification dated May 31, 2012, where Girnar hills were declared in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, there was no committee to monitor the plastic ban.

As per the affidavit filed by Junagadh collector, the committee has been in existence since 2016.

Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal said, “It appears that there does not exist a committee for the reason that there is no curb on plastic…” 

“We don’t want to see the face of the committee; we want to see the work done by the committee over the years,” she added.

She further asked, “What have they (Junagadh authorities) done since 2016 till now? Why could they not stop the use of plastic? Where are the instructions passed by the committee?”

The chief justice also inquired about what the authorities did in the four years from 2012 to 2016.

The court also pointed out that there are no clear instructions on the ban on plastic, as plastic bottles and bags above 50 microns were not clearly banned.

Despite a complete ban on plastic, the petitioner, Panchal, informed the court that plastics above 120 microns were in use, and it was revealed that no ban was put on plastic between 2016 and 2024.

The HC had sought the annual reports of the ESZ monitoring committee since 2012 and was not satisfied with the reply of steps taken to stop plastic use in Girnar hills before HC’s intervention.

The additional advocate general of the state (ADG), Manisha Shah, assured the court that the matter would be solved comprehensively. The next hearing was scheduled for Feb 28.

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