In a significant move to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats, the Madras High Court has imposed a ban on 28 types of plastic items, including PET bottles.

A division bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chackravarthy issued interim directions while hearing a batch of petitions filed by G Subramania Koushik and others.

The Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to issue a notification under the Motor Vehicles Act mandating that vehicles transporting banned plastic items must not be allowed entry into the Western Ghats, including the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. Vehicles violating this directive will be detained, and further legal action will follow.

To curb the distribution of food packed in non-biodegradable materials, the bench ordered that shopkeepers and others involved must transfer the contents into biodegradable packaging. Local bodies have been instructed to provide paper covers free of cost, with expenses reimbursable from the Green Fund. The court also encouraged the use of biodegradable materials like those made from leaves.

Additionally, authorities have been asked to ensure the availability of drinking water through ATMs, RO plants, and other sustainable methods to reduce plastic bottle usage.

The court directed the concerned authorities, including district collectors and local bodies, to ensure full compliance with its orders and file a status report by June 6, 2025.