Ban on soaps, oil at Courtallam falls extended

The Courtallam shopkeepers in their petition had pleaded the court to revoke the ban on usage of soaps and oils at Courtallam falls as their livelihood is dependent on selling them to tourists. HC too appointed an expert panel to study the impact of soaps and oils on Courtallam falls and the panel had unanimously opposed the use of soaps, oils and other chemicals in the falls. The case came up for hearing on Wednesday and Tenkasi ASP, Shashank Sai, appeared at the court and submitted his counter affidavit. After the argument, the bench said that the ban on use of soaps, oils and other chemicals would continue. However, a blanket ban on selling of soaps, oils and other chemicals to tourists could not imposed, it observed. “There would be no ban on selling the soaps and oils away from the falls, but Tirunelveli district Collector and Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police can decide the distance from the falls to sell oil, soaps and other chemicals.” However, it imposed a complete ban on plastics both in Courtallam and Ayiraperi Panchayats, located near Tenkasi.