Karnataka's Environmental Ban Near Sacred Water Bodies Faces Implementation Hurdles
In March 2025, Karnataka's State Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre issued a significant environmental directive aimed at preserving the sanctity and purity of water bodies across the state's pilgrimage centers. The order explicitly prohibited the sale of soaps, shampoos, and detergents within a 500-meter radius of rivers, lakes, and temple ponds at these sacred sites. This measure was designed to combat escalating water pollution caused by chemical contaminants from these everyday products.
Widespread Non-Compliance During Festive Seasons
Despite the ministerial order, implementation has been conspicuously absent. During recent festivals and annual jatras, including the prominent Badami Banashankari celebrations, sales of these banned items continued unabated. Shopkeepers in key pilgrimage hubs such as Hampi, Kudala Sangama, Banashankari, Savadatti, and other centers reported complete unawareness of the ban. Many stated they had received no warnings or communications from any governmental officials regarding the restriction.
Temple authorities echoed this sentiment, clarifying they had not received any formal instructions about the ban. They emphasized that monitoring commodities sold in nearby shops falls outside their traditional duties and administrative responsibilities.
Community Responses and Awareness Campaigns
Sangayya, a shopkeeper operating in Kudala Sangama, provided insight into the situation. "We have been selling these products for years without interruption," he noted. "However, during Sankranti, some environmental organizations conducted awareness campaigns urging devotees to avoid chemical soaps, shampoos, detergents, and even toothpastes near riverbanks. Consequently, our sales of these items did experience a noticeable dip this year."
Local residents like Savita Megur, a homemaker from Kudala Sangama, observed that sales near riverbanks never actually ceased. She advocated for stricter enforcement, stating, "The sale should be stopped completely to protect aquatic life and conserve clean water, especially at our sacred temple sites."
Environmental Advocacy and Governmental Responsibility
Mallikarjun Radder, founder of the Varadashri Foundation based in Hubballi, highlighted extensive awareness efforts. Over 200 organizations promoted using traditional alternatives like besan (gram flour) instead of chemical soaps at major pilgrimage centers. "We witnessed many devotees purchasing the banned products," Radder explained. "This prompted us to urge the government to implement the ban strictly for the larger environmental good."
Radder expressed regret over the ongoing pollution, detailing how chemical soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes, and plastic waste severely harm aquatic ecosystems and degrade water quality in these revered water bodies.
Official Statements and Implementation Challenges
Anilkumar Talageri, Environment Officer at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in Bagalkot, clarified jurisdictional responsibilities. He stated that local municipal bodies are duty-bound to ensure the order's implementation. "We have instructed municipal authorities to prevent single-use plastics and enforce pollution control measures," Talageri said. "Moving forward, we will specifically direct them to halt the sale of soaps and shampoos near river bodies."
Minister Eshwar Khandre, the architect of the ban, was unavailable for comment regarding the implementation failures. The gap between policy declaration and ground-level execution remains a significant challenge, underscoring the need for coordinated action between state departments, local authorities, and community stakeholders to achieve the intended environmental protection goals.
