Tourism boom takes its toll on Irpu

By throwing liquor bottles, plastics in and around the falls region, the beauty of the falls is getting spoiled. From Rameshwar temple to Irpu falls, one can find plastic bags and cigarrette packs. Though forest department made an attempt to clean the vicinity, owing to the wind, the plastic flies and gets stuck on the trees.

Amidst the rocks, one can find liquor bottles thrown by the tourists. Tourists enjoy themselves looking at the beauty of the falls while having liquor and then throw the bottles helter skelter without caring for the environment. Forest department and Temple committees have erected hoardings in the region which states that plastic is banned. However, no one seems to have cared for the warning.

 The Irpu falls was not famous 10 years ago. However, now it attracts thousands of tourists. ‘For the greenery to remain in Kodagu, tourists also should show interest in environment. They should try to use waste bins and see that water bodies are not polluted. There is a need to create an awareness among tourists and stringent action must be initiated against those who violate the rules and regulation related to environment,” said environmentalist K M Chinnappa.