KAKINADA: Tourism has been barred at the famous ‘Gudisa village’ in Maredumilli mandal in the Agency area of East Godavari for a month as the place has been affected by tourists dumping plastic waste. Apart from dirtying the place, animals were found to be consuming the plastic as they eat waste food.
Adhithya Praveen, project officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 and set up a check-post to prevent tourists from entering the place.
Gudisa, a hamlet of Pullangi panchayat, is located on a hillock and has a population of 116 in 26 households. The village is famous for its scenic beauty, and attracts tourists who pitch tents and stay overnight to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. These tourists are said to be carelessly discarding their plastic plates, water bottles and others items on the hillock area.
A large number of tourists had recently visited Gudise, which only increased the plastic waste. Though officials advised tourists not to use plastic items, they were not heeded.
The Rampachodavaram divisional panchayat officer and the mandal tahsildar submitted a report to the ITDA project officer explaining the situation. The project officer immediately took steps to curb tourist activity. He then set about getting the plastic waste cleared.
“Sixteen volunteers of Pullangi panchayat have been engaged to clear the plastic debris and clean the hillock area. The waste will be collected in bags and taken to the district panchayat office at Kakinada. Tourists will not be allowed to visit Gudise until the completion of cleaning the plastic waste,” said K. Krishna Moha, Maredimilli mandal mandal parishad development officer.
The tourists should be aware of environmental issues and cooperate with the officials to keep the hillock as clean. Strict action would be taken against the violators, Mohan said.
D. Kishore, Pullangi village secretary, said that as per the directions of higher officials, steps are being taken in the hillock area.
Praveen, ITDA project officer, had announced that the Agency area to be ‘plastic-free’ six months ago, but officials did not take any steps to curb the use of plastic. Praveen now intends to take up ‘shramdanam’ programme on the third Friday of every month to keep the place clean.
