Activities organised by various organisations as part of the observance of World Environment Day in different parts of the district on Sunday have revealed that problems relating to litter are threatening to get out of hand.
The situation in and around Udhagamandalam has become a major source of concern.
Though the season has ended the ‘hang over' lingers with several parts of the town wearing a battered look.
The insensitivity of certain classes of tourists to the unique ecology of this holiday destination has resulted in many places getting heavily littered.
Green activists regretted that tourists travelling with cooking accessories not only made public areas and forests filthy but also posed a serious threat to the environment.
They told The Hindu here on Monday that despite concerted efforts to check the use of banned plastic items, carry bags, plates and cups were not hard to come by.
The activists added that in the forest areas near Glenmorgan, Pykara and Avalanchi, a considerable amount of such plastic items were dumped by tourists, who didn't seem to care.
What the authorities concerned need to ponder over was the explanation given by some of the tourists that they were using plastic bags and other items only because many of the traders here are using them in transactions.
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