Hill stations like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are seeing a surge in tourists, leading to increased littering. Kodagu, known as the Scotland of India, faces similar challenges. With its beautiful hills and jungles, the region attracts thousands of tourists, but many are irresponsible, leaving behind garbage.
Madetira Thimmaiah, General Secretary of the Kodagu Tourism Association, along with local support, is actively monitoring tourist spots. In a notable incident, Thimmaiah found pizza boxes discarded by tourists and contacted them using the phone numbers written on the boxes. Although the tourists initially refused to return due to the distance, Thimmaiah persisted. With the help of local police and social media, he pressured the tourists until they returned to Madikeri to pick up their trash. This incident, shared online by Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan, garnered widespread praise.
Tourist littering is a growing problem as Coorg becomes a popular weekend destination for residents of Bengaluru and nearby states like Kerala. Forests are also affected, with garbage being dumped in the Makutta Reserve Forest and Bramhagiri Wildlife Forest. Increased patrolling has led to several offenders being booked and action taken against them.
On June 17, former BJP MLA Appachhu Ranjan made tourists turn back and clean up their litter after they were spotted flinging garbage from their car. This initiative, like others, is being lauded online and setting a strong example against littering.
Community efforts in Kodagu highlight the importance of maintaining cleanliness and preserving the natural beauty of popular tourist destinations.