The Madras High Court today directed that the ban on using oil, shampoo and detergents at Courtallam waterfalls in Tirunelveli district would continue, following a report of an experts committee which said use of such items will have negative effect on water, environment.
A division bench of the court's Madurai bench, comprising Justices S.Nagamuthu and M.V.Muralidharan, said according to the experts, oil formed a layer and prevented oxygen and sunlight entering the water.
This would affect agricultural lands also, the court said, banning sale of shampoo, oil and detergents near the falls and at Courtallam town.
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The court was hearing a petition filed by shop owners, seeking to modify the order banning soap and oil at the falls, saying the ban affected their livelihood.
The court felt there should be minimum of three wireless communications systems and five breath analysers to test drunkards and prosecute them.
It said that apart from one TASMAC (state-run liquor outlet) shop which was located 1.5 km away no new state-run outlets should be opened.
It also said tourists could visit the forest area for offering worship at Shenbagadevi temple with permission of the forest officials, and the officials could remove them if anyone caused "harm to the forest."
The court banned the use of plastic cups and bags in the area if they exceeded the "permitted level."
It agreed with the collector that the panchayat alone could collect the parking fee, and said it should maintain the parking area. The court had earlier issued 33 directions to protect the tourist regiion including banning use of shampoo,soap oil, among others, at thefalls.
It had also sought the opinions from experts on the use of such items at the falls. The expert committee, comprising professors from Manonmaniam university, a forest official and environment engineer opposed use of the items.
The committee said during the tourist season one lakh people took oil bath and this caused considerable damage to water quality.
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