The Court was hearing a petition challenging proceedings initiated under the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act against the petitioner concerning a mandapam in Tirunelveli district.
During the hearing, the Court was informed that thousands of devotees visit the bathing ghats of the Thamirabarani river to perform obsequies.
He informed the Court that at least one tonne of garments is dumped into the river every day.
The Court noted that polyester clothes are not biodegradable and could become breeding grounds for bacteria after becoming trapped in the riverbed.
Indian black turtles and Indian flapshell turtles found in the river could also become entangled in the clothes and suffocate.
The Court was hearing a petition challenging proceedings initiated under the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act against the petitioner concerning a mandapam in Tirunelveli district.
During the hearing, the Court was informed that thousands of devotees visit the bathing ghats of the Thamirabarani river to perform obsequies. These rituals involve discarding used and unused garments, towels, slippers and articles associated with the deceased.
The Bench interacted with an activist named Moorthy involved in cleaning the river. He informed the Court that at least one tonne of garments is dumped into the river every day.
The order also referred to a booklet which stated that between May 7 and May 28, cleaning efforts recovered 86 to 90 tonnes of clothes from the river. The waste collected also included 1,385 kilograms of plastic, 374 kilograms of sanitary napkins and diapers, 220 kilograms of glass bottles and 115 kilograms of slippers.
The Court noted that polyester clothes are not biodegradable and could become breeding grounds for bacteria after becoming trapped in the riverbed. Indian black turtles and Indian flapshell turtles found in the river could also become entangled in the clothes and suffocate.
