Cleanup drive and environmental awareness programme organised in Kotagiri
The Kotagiri Citizens Welfare Association (KCWA) organised a cleanup drive and environmental awareness programme at Catherine Falls near Kotagiri on Sunday. The programme was organised
The Kotagiri Citizens Welfare Association (KCWA) organised a cleanup drive and environmental awareness programme at Catherine Falls near Kotagiri on Sunday. The programme was organised with the aim of promoting responsible tourism and protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Nilgiris. The programme was coordinated by local resident Kannan Ramaiah on behalf of the KCWA, working with Arun Bellie, president of the Association, a press release added. The initiative was supported by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Coimbatore Builders and Contractors Association, Rotary Club of Coimbatore Saicity, local naturalists and other environmental organisations such as the Kotagiri Wildlife Association and Sparrows Students and professors of MCC Community College, Kotagiri.
Several volunteers and nature enthusiasts participated. During the programme, volunteers collected plastic bottles, food wrappers and other non-biodegradable waste scattered around the Catherine Falls tourist area. Volunteers interacted with the public, including tourists and encouraged them to avoid littering and by responsibly disposing of or taking back the waste they generate. “Officials of the Forest Department educated visitors about the ecological importance of the area and explained the risks associated with entering prohibited zones around Catherine Falls.
They urged tourists to respect safety regulations, avoid venturing into restricted areas, and help conserve the region’s biodiversity,” they said. The waste collected during the drive was transported for proper disposal by the Kunjapanai Village Panchayat. The Panchayat deputed a vehicle to collect
and remove the waste from the site. Arun Bellie emphasised that protecting the Nilgiris is a shared responsibility and appealed to residents and tourists alike to keep tourist destinations clean, respect forest regulations, and preserve the natural heritage of the hills for future generations.
The BriefWire