Sannidhanam: With the forest department strict on restricting the use of plastic at Sannidhanam, a tussle has emerged between the department, Travancore devaswom board (TDB) and the shopkeepers. The 65 shopkeepers, who have taken the shops on lease at Sannidhanam anticipating a lucrative business during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, are now complaining that the forest department’s strict regulations on the sale of products with plastic wrappers have caused a drastic drop in the sales. They are unable to sell several products, including biscuits, chocolates and even glucose powder, which are on high demand.“We were not told of any such restriction by the TDB while we bagged the shop in auction. We paid Rs 6 lakh for this shop. They should have informed us in advance about the matter. We have now approached the court,” said Binu, who runs a shop at Sannidhanam.However, the TDB said that it has no information regarding plastic ban and therefore, has not imposed any restrictions. “We have not been informed about any ban on plastic wrappers from the forest department. So, we have not issued any notices regarding the use of plastic. If they have any grievances, it is between the forest department and the shop owners ,” TDB president A Padmakumar said.Contrary to the claims of the TDB, the latest order by the high court on July 23, 2018, says that “it will be the bounden duty of the devaswom board to ensure that the traders in and around Sabarimala or any part of the area which is under their control falling as part of the wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve, do not exhibit, sell or bring any food articles or such other articles in plastic covers or sachets and that any such violation be dealt by them very strongly and appropriately”.On the basis of the order, the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forests force P K Kesavan issued an order at the beginning of the pilgrimage season itself that the TDB should ensure that there are no plastics stored in the shops in any form, and if found otherwise, a fine of Rs 2,000 will be slapped on them. The same offence for the second time will invite a fine of Rs 5,000. The third time if a shop is caught stocking plastic, the shop will not be allowed to function further. Forest department officials said that the matter was clearly informed to the TDB in all the coordination meetings and it is their responsibility to impose the restrictions.

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