AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday issued notice to the state government, Junagadh district authorities and forest authority concerned over a PIL demanding proper sanitation and disposal of solid and liquid waste around temples on the Girnar hill.
While seeking reply from the authorities, the bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri discussed the cleanliness efforts being taken at the famous pilgrim places like Vaishno Devi and Sabarimala temples. The bench suggested the authorities to emulate the sanitisation models adopted by these religious places.
Petitioner advocate Amit Panchal filed the PIL complaining that the areas around Ambika and Dattatreya temples on the hilltop have turned into a dustbin with waste being dumped at all places. The unchecked littering of plastic waste will lead to environmental degradation and creation of waste heaps may lead to infections and diseases among pilgrims and visitors. The lawyer has urged the HC to direct the authorities to take immediate and remedial actions required by coercive steps for ensuring proper sanitation of the place.
In his PIL, advocate Panchal contended that the precautionary principle makes it mandatory for the state government to anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of degradation of environment and of human health. Article 48-A of the Constitution puts an onus on the government to ensure proper protection and improvement of the environment, and it is also a positive obligation under Article 21 of the Constitution. The PIL wants dustbins to be placed in places so that pilgrims and visitors do not litter plastic waste, and warning boards at conspicuous places.
