Coimbatore: Licence of a shop at the Poondi Velliangiri Andavar Temple was cancelled for using banned plastic and polythene covers.The temple, located at the foothills of Velliangiri, is currently witnessing an influx of pilgrims trekking the hills. To prevent plastic waste from accumulating on the hills and to protect the environment, the Forest Department and volunteers are keeping a tight vigil round the clock, enforcing regulations. Several shops that are leased out to private individuals by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department are operating at the foothills. These shops are instructed to avoid plastic items entirely. Following several complaints that some shops were using banned plastic items, temple executive officer Sakthivel and Boluvampatti forest ranger K Jayachandran conducted a raid a few days ago and found that a shop was selling pooja products in banned plastic covers. “Temple authorities subsequently issued two notices to the shop for using polythene bags, but the owner did not respond. The authorities then cancelled the shop’s licence on Saturday and issued a strict warning to other shops against using banned polythene bags,” a source said.
