Haridwar, Aug 10 (IANS): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned the use of plastic bottles around the banks of Uttarakhand here to check the menace of pollution in and around the river Ganges, an official said on Monday.
This has been necessitated as devotees and visitors bringing plastic water bottles along with them throw them near the banks, he said.
The littering causes these bottles to settle on the river bed, causing great harm to the river, the official added.
The NGT has asked the state government to ensure ban on sale of plastic bottles near the Ganges and shutdown all shops selling them.
The tribunal also appointed a local commissioner on August 4 and asked him to furnish a detailed progress report. Local district officials have been asked to cooperate with the official.