Plastic ban in AP temples from July 1

Amaravathi, May 8: Use of all types of plastic items will be completely banned in all the temples in Andhra Pradesh. Including plastic water bottles, plastic covers used to keep puja items also will not be allowed in the temples and sale of plastic covers and plastic water bottles in the shops near the temple also will be banned.
 
The plastic ban will come into effect from July 1 in the main temples that are categorized under 6(A).
 
The Endowments Department has categorized temples with an annual income of Rs 25 lakh and more under 6(A) category. There are a total of 24,699 temples, choultries and mattams in the State under the Endowments Department limits. Among these, 174 temples, 28 choultries and mattams come under 6(A) category. The department has issued orders to the Executive Officers of these temples and choultries to take steps to ban plastic items from July 1. 
 
Steps will be taken to provide drinking water in the main temples in the same way the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam doing. Steel glasses will be placed near drinking water kiosks. The officials will ask the devotees either to bring water from their houses in glass or steel bottles. 
 
The Endowments Department took the decision as plastic covers are detrimental to environment and posing threat to humans’ health. Besides, cows and other animals are dying after consuming plastic covers thrown on the streets. 
 
According to the officials, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials to strictly implement plastic ban in all the temples, following the footsteps of TTD.