Thiruvananthapuram: The Forest Department has decided to impose a fine of Rs 2,000 on those who leave untreated waste, including plastic, inside the forest with strict action against those who deposit waste in forest areas and protected forest areas. The new law will be implemented in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and community reserves.
According to the order, which is effective from December 1, officers of the rank of Beat Forest Officer and above can be fined directly. Those who refuse to pay the fine will be prosecuted under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The law applies not only to tourists but also to those who use protected forest roads for inner forest habitations and other purposes. The amount of fine is proposed to be used only for sanitation activities in the respective forest areas.
The Forest Department is also planning to set up special committees consisting of forest department officials and local body representatives to effectively implement the green law in protected forest areas and to curb waste investment.
Eating plastic covers, containers, wild animals and birds that contain food debris left behind by visitors in the forest poses a great threat to their lives. As 29 per cent of the state's forest cover is adjacent to habitations, such waste dumping also has a major impact on the environment. The new move by the Forest Department is to curb this.
