Gaya: Feeding fish in the pond on the Mahabodhi Mahavihara premises has been banned and made punishable with a Rs 500 penalty.

Notifying the ban, Gaya district magistrate, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee has warned shrine entrants against carrying polythene bags and other plastic material inside Mahabodhi temple, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment.

The ban follows innumerable complaints regarding pollution of the Muchalind Sarovar, the holy pond to the north of Vajrasan, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment.

Eatables thrown by devotees and tourists can be seen floating all around the pond producing bad odour and creating environmental hazards.

On July 9, 2018, the Gaya DM assured a bench of Patna High Court that use of plastic products has been banned. The information was given to the high court bench comprising Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice S. Kumar. The penalty amount would be deposited in the shrine's account. Use of footwear inside the shrine is already banned and it carries a penalty of Rs 50. Most of the plastic products taken inside the shrine find their way to the pond.

The Gaya DM told the court that around 3 lakh devotees and tourists visit the shrine every year.

The Patna High court bench has also issued notices to the chief secretary, the urban development department principal secretary and the pollution control board chairman to be present in the court on July 23 when the court would consider imposition of a state-wide ban on the use of all plastic products, single-use as well as recyclable.