Cameras to Track Tourists Dumping Plastic Waste in Forest Areas
Green tax, fines, and CCTV surveillance introduced to stop pollution in sensitive forest areas
Vijayawada: Foresters have raised concern over the dumping of plastic and other waste by visitors at tourism destinations and eco-sensitive areas like Papikondalu, Gudisa and the Pullur waterfall in Chintur area.
These areas fall under the Godavari and Alluri Sitaram Raju districts. Large numbers of tourists move around in boats in Papikondalu on the Godavari river, through the curvaceous course along the hill ranges. Foresters say they are facing a tough time collecting and removing the solid waste being dumped by these tourists.
The waste includes plastic plates, glasses, containers, empty liquor bottles etc.
The boards announcing curbs on dumping of such waste are not being of much help. Hence, foresters started imposing an environmental tax on boats in the range of `1,350 for a small boat and `2,200 for a big boat. They are also imposing a fine of `1,000 per head on tourists found throwing the waste around the eco-sensitive area.
“We have installed CCTV cameras at various locations to detect such actions. A central monitoring station has been set up, where officers keep a watch on movement of tourists.
The environmental tax and the fine are being used to engage members of Vana Samrakshana Samithi to collect the waste and send it for recycling.
“Our aim is not to make money, but to keep the area clean,” the foresters claimed.
Foresters have also deployed mobile teams to keep a check on the dumping of waste at tourism centres. They are also keeping an eye on dumping of waste at Gudisa grass lands, which is popular for shooting of films like Pushpa. This is located in the Maredumilli forest area. A similar arrangement has also been made at the Pullur waterfalls in Chintur agency area of the Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
The Rajahmundry circle's forest conservator NN Murthy said, “Even educated people are dumping solid waste all around without any concern for conservation and protection of the environment in eco-sensitive tourism destinations. We are imposing green tax, a fine and doing electronic surveillance to check this menace.”
