The Karnataka government has ordered a ban on sale of soaps, detergents and shampoos within 500 metres of rivers and tanks to protect the waterbodies from pollution caused by the products. State environment and ecology minister Eshwar Khandre, instructing officials to regulate its sale, also issued orders to prevent devotees from leaving behind their old clothes in the waterbodies.
Referring to the use-and-throw culture, the minister said the devotees damage the ecosystem of waterbodies at holy places. “Most devotees leave behind used soaps, detergents, and shampoo packets along the bathing ghats of rivers, lakes, and temple ponds. Eventually, these are let into the rivers, which affects the quality of water,” the minister said in a letter to additional chief secretary to the environment and ecology department.
A senior department official told TOI that due to these unchecked activities, waterbodies at pilgrimage centres are rich in phosphates and other chemical compounds, resulting in increased frothing of water.