-U. Bharath (cbedit@imaws.org)
The increasing plastic pollution in the hill town of Yercaud, an immensely popular summer resort in the Salem district is still to be addressed in its entirety. Even basic mandates and measures such as a total ban on single-use plastics including carry bags and PET bottles are not yet implemented, unlike in Ooty and Kodaikanal, which are miles ahead in eradicating the plastic pollution says Dr. Vishu. K. Chairman Emeritus of the Yercaud Hotel Owners Association (YHOA).
While chatting with Kitchen Herald Dr. K. Vishu, touched upon vital aspects of stalled growth, which is limiting the quaint hill town from reaching its next leap of popularity, even though tourist arrivals have registered immense growth in recent years.
For example, the dismal and dysfunctional state of plastic eradication measures is a case in point say the hoteliers.
“Anti-plastic measures are abysmally lacking enforcement teeth, to achieve any conceivable results, while sub-par tourism infrastructure makes the hill town less attractive when compared to Ooty and Kodaikanal” complain the hospitality industry stakeholders
“A strategically located hill town like Yercaud, at the centre of Tamil Nadu, which is also in close proximity to buzzling metropolises like Bangalore, Chennai and Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, is languishing like a “poor cousin” of Ooty or Kodaikanal, despite many representations to the Salem district administration and the Tamil Nadu government in recent years” Vishu, President of YHOA says.
“Yercaud, has witnessed huge leap in tourist arrivals from Bangalore during weekends and extended holidays, but despite the fact, the hill town has remained a three-day- two night stay for most of the arriving tourists, instead of growing into a four day- three-night stay, solely due to lack of modern tourist amenities and attractions like adventure parks, cable cars and eco-tourism amenities”
.” At present Yercaud offers, little more than its famous climate, lake site, viewpoints and temples. A couple of theme parks have been added in recent years, but it is simply not enough” K. Vishu adds.
Lack of political will
while blaming the lack of political will to develop Yercaud, into a major tourism attraction, on par with Ooty and Kodaikanal, Vishu says “Plastic pollution is a major head ache. Even though two check posts function in the two connecting roads to Yercaud town, including Salem- Yercaud and Kuppanur- Yercaud road, entry of banned plastic items, are not checked as it should be”.
“This is in sharp contrast to Ooty, where about 26 banned plastic items are banned from entry. All the entry points to Ooty are monitored, with seven check posts, manned by ex-service men, in order to the prevent the entry of banned plastic items into the town. Whereas, in Yercaud no such strict ban is implemented and tourist spots like the Yercaud lake area, and Shevaroyan Temple suffer from huge plastic pollution” say hospitality industry stakeholders.
Many projects stalled
The hoteliers also complain that many proposals such as “floating restaurant” (a restaurant on a boat house) in the Yercaud lake, and cable car facilities are shelved.
“While the Tamil Nadu government has taken the call to develop Ooty and recently Mamallapuram, Yercaud is still waiting for its turn” says Vishu
Flood the market with plastic alternatives
Suggesting that plastic pollution could be tackled by flooding the supply chain with biodegradable items N.R.Karthikeyan, Honorary Secretary of YHOA says crockery and cutlery from areca nut, bagasse and bamboo products could replace plastics, but all in the food sector should be ready to embrace the change. “All stakeholders should join hands to bring about mind-set change in consumption practices away from harmful plastics to save Yercaud for posterity insists K. Jagan Mohan, Treasurer, YHOA
Manivannan, GM, Shevaroy Resorts says that “the restaurants are slowly but surely adopting biodegrable items in their crockery and cutlery and storage options. But the word has to spread and every stakeholder should adopt the best practices when it comes to plastic pollution. One must realize an environmentally safe Yercaud would attract more footfalls, if the industry says no to plastics”.
Salubrious Climate affected?
According to many hoteliers not only the summer weather got affected in recent years, but also water table suffered as it has gone down to abysmal depths in recent years.
“Earlier we faced water crisis during summer, but in recent years’ winters are no exception. The famous Yercaud weather is messed up now. The mercury level often shoots up to 27 C, in summer, in contrast to the past years when it remained in the range of 22 C maximum. Blame it on tree felling, growing real estate, pollution and traffic chaos on roads” say many stakeholders in the food sector in the hill town.
Water ATMs to prevent plastic pollution
Like in Ooty, Water ATMs should be installed in important tourist spots in Yercaud hills. A refill could be availed for Rs.10. It is a win- win environmental solution to prevent plastic pollution added to installation of “Meendum Manjappai” cloth vending machines. Such facilities should be introduced in Yercaud to make it plastic-free” says Ravi Sundar, GM of Shambhala resorts.
Make Yercaud, a “No Plastic Zone”
Considering all the factors, it is high time that the Tamil Nadu Government enforce strict anti- plastic enforcement measures to earmark Yercaud as a “No Plastics Zone”.
“A hill station with a long and eventful history going back to the colonial era should not lose its sheen due to plastic pollution and environmental destruction. Yercaud, which is famously called the “Jewel of the South” shouldn’t left to languish in neglect due to general apathy from all the stakeholders” say the hoteliers.
