How Velliangiri Hills turned plastic-free

A view of Velliangiri Hills in Coimbatore
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Just lately, a video of a novel train to chop down plastics by Tamil Nadu Forest division went viral. It reveals pilgrims visiting Velliangiri Hills within the Western Ghats, about 40 kilometres from Coimbatore, tag their plastic bottles with a inexperienced sticker. Then, they proceed to pay a refundable deposit of ₹20 at Poondi, the foothills, earlier than starting their ascent over the seven hills that summits at a Shiva temple. Whereas the staff tagged shut to 2 lakh bottles, over 1.66 lakh water bottles had been introduced again by the pilgrims, which is about 85%. A easy train, this prevented 14 tonnes of plastic waste from coming into the reserve forest, a thriving bio-diversity hotspot positioned at an altitude of 1850 metres above imply sea degree. Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for the staff, together with a tweet by Supriya Sahu, Further Chief Secretary, Division of Atmosphere, Local weather Change and Forests. She wrote, “In a implausible train Workforce #TNForest Coimbatore carried out an initiative to forestall littering of disposable water bottles by pilgrims visiting Velliangiri Hills….”

“It’s a hit mannequin that may be replicated throughout pilgrim websites in India the place there’s a frequent entry level for everybody,” says N Jayaraj, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Coimbatore including that the suggestions from the general public has been encouraging. “Over time, because the influx of vacationers has shot up, it’s our duty to guard the ecosystem. Earlier than opening the Velliangiri Hills for pilgrims, forest officers, NGOs and volunteers brainstormed for concepts on chopping down plastics and we went forward with tagging plastic bottles. The train ensured that each particular person did their bit in direction of conservation.”

Trekking up Velliangiri isn’t for the faint-hearted. Thought of probably the most tough climbs within the State, the six-kilometre arduous trek exams one’s bodily and psychological energy.

“We suggest individuals with bronchial asthma, coronary heart illnesses, arthritis and different well being points like hypertension and diabetes to skip the trek. We enable pilgrims throughout three months between March and Might. It stays closed throughout the remainder of the 12 months as the acute climate is akin to what one experiences on the Himalayas. In addition to freezing chilly climate, the winds might be harsh due to the gusty air that blows from the Kerala facet of the Western Ghats. The temple opens for pilgrims between Shivarathri in February to Chitra Pournami in Might,” explains T Suseendranath, Forest Vary Officer of Boluvampatti Vary.

The terrain, which is an abode of elephants, noticed deer and gaur, and evergreen shola forests, usually will get affected by biscuit wrappers, paper cups, meals containers, and meals wrappers in the course of the season. “This 12 months alone, over two lakh pilgrims from throughout Tamil Nadu trekked the hills. Whereas it takes six hours to achieve the highest, it takes one other 5 hours to get again down. At entry level, we be certain that pilgrims wrap meals in paper, however plastic water bottles had been a menace. However this drive was a hit. The bottles had been collected and given to recyclers,” he says.

Many common guests say the climb is a ‘as soon as in a lifetime expertise’ crammed with breathtaking views, cool breeze and misty air. The trek begins at Poondi village and the primary hill is believed to be probably the most tough to climb. There are ups and downs as they climb the opposite hills and Aandi Sunai, a bone-chilling stream marks the top of the sixth hill. The seventh hill is the hardest. Provides Suseendranath, “The hills additionally function the catchment of River Noyyal. Now we have to make sure a pollution-free zone to make sure that Noyyal, the lifeline of Coimbatore, stays pristine alongside the course.”