KRISHNAGIRI: As per the direction of the Madras High Court, the Dharmapuri Collector, R. Ananthakumar, has initiated steps to ban the use of plastics and recycled plastics in the district with immediate effect. This was announced by the Collector at a press conference in Dharmapuri Collectorate on Tuesday. He made an appeal to the people to avoid using plastic materials and recycled plastic materials across the district. Mr. Ananthakumar said that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court gave its directions to adhere to the specifications laid down in the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 as amended by the Centre in 2003. Tourist spot Mr. Ananthakumar appealed to the general public not to use plastics in the only tourist spot of the district Hogenakkal, as it is the duty of everyone to keep the surroundings clean. To begin with, the campaign against the usage of plastic will begin from Hogenakkal soon, he added.