Orissa high court orders action against plastic use at Baliyatra

Cuttack: Expressing serious concern over environmental and health hazards posed by polythene, Orissa high court has directed authorities to take urgent steps to curb plastic use during the Baliyatra in Cuttack, starting Wednesday.A division bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh passed the order on Oct 30 after the Orissa High Court Bar Association raised the issue. Bar association president Manoj Mishra and secretary Avijit Patnaik highlighted that indiscriminate use of plastic was clogging drains and causing waterlogging, which could lead to the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue. The Bar association urged the court to intervene on an “emergency basis” before the commencement of Baliyatra, one of the state’s biggest festivals, when polythene use tends to surge.During the hearing, Cuttack additional district magistrate (ADM), Shibo Toppo, who joined the proceedings virtually, assured the court that “necessary steps for sensitisation and administrative steps to stop the use of polythene in Baliyatra shall be taken and viable alternatives which are eco-friendly shall be suggested to be used by the business community so that it does not affect their livelihood as well”.

Welcoming the assurance, the bench said it expected the district administration to conduct awareness campaigns during the festival. “This court expects that during Baliyatra, where there would be a huge gathering, an awareness programme for preventing polythene use and adopting reusable alternatives can be taken by the district administration which would be for the betterment of the society,” the order stated.The court also suggested the use of reusable and eco-friendly alternatives such as cotton, jute and canvas bags, along with biodegradable options made from plant-based materials like starch or bamboo. It recommended promotion of reusable silicone or beeswax-lined bags and glass containers for food storage.In its order, the HC noted that “burning polythene releases toxic gases that cause air pollution, respiratory issues and even cancer”.

It further observed that “non-biodegradable polythene also pollutes land and water, harms animals, and its microplastics can enter the food chain and human bodies, potentially causing long term health problems like hormonal disruption and cancer”.Directing that awareness be spread “through various methods including social media”, the court emphasised that reducing plastic use in daily life was crucial for protecting both the environment and public health.As the city gears up for Baliyatra, which draws lakhs of visitors each year, the HC order is expected to give a major push to the ongoing efforts to make the maritime fair plastic-free.On Oct 17, 2017, while allowing the Baliyatra to be held along the Mahanadi riverbed, the east zone bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Kolkata had directed the authorities to declare the site as a “plastic-free zone”.