Even after the Madras High Court issued directions to Courtallam town panchayat administration on steps to be taken in the tourist destination to ensure visitor-friendly environment, the local body still allows functioning of the pay-and-use toilet near the Main Falls and free flow of human waste into the stream.
When an advocate approached the Madras High Court for directions to town panchayat officials on the efforts to be taken to improve the basic amenities and the sanitary conditions in Courtallam, which attracts a large number of tourists during the season between June and August, the court gave a list of instructions to be strictly followed by the town panchayat.
As per the direction, the tourists were prohibited from using oil, soaps, detergents, shampoo and shikakai powder while taking bath in the waterfalls. The court also directed the urban civic body to ensure that no waste was allowed to mix with the stream from the waterfalls and shift the pay-and-use toilets near the waterfalls to some other location.
Though sale and use of oil, soaps, detergents, shampoo and shikakai powder have stopped to a great extent, discharge of waste into the stream still continues.
The sanitary complex near the Main Falls is still allowed to function and waste from the toilets is let out into the stream.
Executive Officer (in-charge) of Courtallam town panchayat Lingaraj said the toilet had been allowed to function after a separate outlet was laid to connect it with a larger septic tank constructed beyond the Main Falls Cottages.
“If any waste is still entering the stream, we’ll immediately take corrective measures to avoid the pollution of the stream and to honour the court’s direction,” Mr. Lingaraj said.
The visitors also want police to check the drivers of the tourist vehicles with breathalyzers.
“Since consumption of alcohol is still rampant in Courtallam, the police, as directed by the court, should deploy personnel armed with breathalyzers so that it will discourage the drivers from consuming alcohol,” said S. Selvarajan, a trader from Virudhunagar.
