Munnar is a tourist favourite destination for many but what we do not realize is the toll that it puts on the environment. But all this is about to change as Munnar is going green. From green shops to distribute eco-friendly essentials to green corridors and green checkpoints, nature lovers have many more reasons to visit Munnar. Read on to know more about this Kerala abode’s green plans.
Green Munnar Initiative Includes Green Shops For Distributing Eco-Friendly Alternatives
District Collector H. Dinesan told The Hindu that the Green Munnar project, in association with the Haritha Keralam Mission, would take off by the second week of January. He also mentioned that there will be a green corridor, green check-posts manned by the Haritha Karma Sena and a green shop to distribute alternative products. Furthermore, a sustainable conservation and waste management project is currently under-way in Devikulam taluk, which comprises of eight gramas.
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With a systematic non-biodegradable waste collection, the government hopes to ease the stress on Munnar due to tourism. It is hoped that once the project is implemented, the environmentally sensitive spot could emerge as a major responsible tourism centre with the systematic collection of non-biodegradable waste. Wagamon is known for its green check-posts on all entry points and a user fee is collected from the travellers. Also, at the check-points, non-biodegradable wastes are collected from the visitors. The project has succeeded in keeping the hill station free of waste.
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Tourists In Munnar Don’t Throw Waste On Roads As They Will Be Fined
Hotels and resorts also follow the protocol prescribed by the grama panchayat. Routine checks are conducted at the hotels and resorts and those violating the norms are fined. If a facility is found to be violating the norms regularly, its license will be suspended. However, initially, there were issues regarding project implementation. Speaking about that, Haritha Keralam Mission district coordinator G.S. Madhu said to The Hindu, that after the installation of the green check-posts and follow-up action is taken, it turned a success. Now the visitors are aware that it is a responsible tourism centre. Also, the tourists are not throwing waste on the roadside as they know they will be fined for it. Apart from Munnar, visit Kerala’s Ayurvedic Healing Village.