Latest news with #LSGIs
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Kerala HC bans single-use plastics in hilly tourist spots, functions
Kochi: Kerala high court on Tuesday issued a comprehensive order banning the use and sale of single-use plastics in ten hilly tourist destinations with high footfall — including Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Nelliyampathy, Athirappally and Sulthan Bathery — as well as at all wedding auditoriums, hotels, restaurants and official functions of the central and state govts conducted in the state. A bench of Justices Bechu Kurian Thomas and P Gopinath ordered that the ban would come into effect on Oct 2, 2025 (Gandhi Jayanti), by which time the state govt should take adequate steps to implement the directive. The court was considering a suo motu petition initiated after a major fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram waste management plant in Kochi in March 2023, which took authorities nearly two weeks to put out completely and caused serious environment pollution. The banned single-use plastics include plastic water bottles of less than 5L, soft drink bottles of less than 2L, plastic food containers, plates, cups, sachets, straws and bakery boxes. The court further directed that the ban on single-use plastics at functions held in hotels and auditoriums should be made part of the licence conditions for such establishments. Non-woven bags of 60 GSM and above are excluded from the ban, as they are subject to the outcome of an appeal in another (Nibu Kasim) case pending before the court. To ensure access to clean drinking water, the court directed that sufficient water kiosks should be installed at reasonable intervals in hilly tourist areas. Alternative arrangements, such as the supply or sale of water through kiosks or in glass, copper or steel bottles, are to be made by the district administration and local self-govt institutions (LSGIs). Tourists must be discouraged from carrying single-use plastic bottles and encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles. Additionally, the state and LSG authorities were directed to take steps to prevent the dumping of plastic waste into rivers, canals and backwaters, and to ensure the regular collection of plastic waste from such water bodies. Voluntary organisations may also extend their support in these efforts. The court said effective public awareness and media campaigns should be launched across various platforms to educate the public on the harmful effects of single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly alternatives. Visual media should be encouraged to broadcast awareness content on the dangers of plastic pollution, especially the indiscriminate dumping of single-use plastics. Print media should also play an active role in this campaign, it said. The court directed the chief secretary and the special secretary of the LSG department to coordinate the implementation of these directives in collaboration with the LSGIs, Kerala State Pollution Control Board and state police.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala Government begins processing of bills in treasury queue
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The finance department has directed various government departments and local self-government institutions (LSGIs) to prioritise bills kept in treasury queue before resubmission. The bills submitted in the fag end of the just-concluded financial year were kept in the queue system due to fund shortage. 'Bills of LSGIs, various government departments and institutions which could not be passed in 2024-25 can be passed without revised administrative sanction. The drawing and disbursing officers should take appropriate decisions on resubmission as the bills are to be honoured from the budget allocation for the current financial year,' said a circular issued by additional chief secretary (finance) A Jayathilak. It said the administrative sanction for spending from the current year's budget allocation will be given after deducting the amount of the resubmitted bills. Administrative departments, their heads and sections concerned in the finance department should ensure this. Treasuries have been asked to ensure that the treasury accounts of the LSGIs and government departments have sufficient balance to honour the cheques. Bills are to be passed in accordance with their seniority in the treasury queue system. The circular warned of disciplinary action against lapses in following the guidelines in the circular. According to the finance department, treasury disbursals in March 2025 alone came to Rs 26,000 crore, the highest in recent years. LSGIs and departments were allowed to submit bills until March 26 as the last working day of the month was March 29. Plan funds for LSGIs were fully sanctioned. The state government's expenditure in the 2024-25 financial year was over Rs 1.75 lakh crore.
