Chennai: As the shore temple of Mamallapuram, near here, also affected by the fury of the floods in December last, has started attracting tourists, those in this heritage town located about 60 km from here where the use of plastics has been banned, sees a new hope in the Swachh Parayatan mobile app launched by the Union tourism ministry.
This app has come in handy to the tourists and local residents in alerting the authorities on the upkeep of this Unesco -declared world heritage site (falling in
neighbouring Kanchipuram district), says a senior tourism official.
The shore temple at Mamallapuram, is among the 25 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments in India that has been included in the “Swachh Parayatan Mobile App” to keep it clean and tidy. The app will pave way for the participation of the tourists and other stakeholders.
Many visiting this monument expect the Centre to liberalise norms and permit videography. The app, which has been integrated into the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is available for download on Android phones through Google Play Store.
“Though foreigners visit Mahabalipuram during the winter, the season for tourists is all through the year.
In fact, this heritage town is a major attraction in the district and it continues to lure several thousands of visitors annually,” says an official with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC).
Owing to the monument’s vulnerability to nature’s fury, especially intense
inundation during monsoon, and also with an intention to protect the group of monuments, the ASI has taken up casuarina tree plantation on the coastal belt.
These trees could guard the shores and arrest the waves, sand and wind erosion to a considerable extent, it was pointed out.
