Even as this vacation destination is gearing up for the summer tourist season which is just a few days away, a feeling gathering ground particularly among residents of The Nilgiris is that the authorities should put in place a plan of action to spell out Dos and Don’ts for tourists.
Their view is that though tourism plays a major role in ensuring the economic wellbeing of this hill station, it is also responsible for the degradation of the environment to some extent.
Some of them told The Hindu that if effective steps were not taken soon to regulate tourism it would in the long run do more harm than good to the district.
Lamenting that the tendency among certain classes of tourists to treat the local environment as ‘personal rubbish dump’ was growing, Marie Marcel Thekaekara, a social activist, expressed the hope that before the influx of visitors became heavy the district administration, forest department and the police should in collaboration with local residents, associations, schools and colleges, take steps to at least ‘curb the ravaging of our beautiful countryside’.
Pointing out that most of the tourists were well to do, she wondered why they behaved in an irresponsible manner. Since discipline vis a vis protection of the environment was conspicuous by its absence during the season, ‘it is up to The Nilgiris residents and governing authorities to enforce discipline’.
Rash driving
Steps should also be taken to prevent rash driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. Violators should be fined heavily. They should be warned through sign boards erected at prominent places.
She regretted that many tourists were belligerent when locals admonished them for littering public places.
