Continuous efforts by the district administration to promote ecotourism in Yercaud is facing threat as garbage collected from households are dumped in the open space near the lake.
Solid wastes and plastics collected from households are dumped near the lake. Residents said that though it is a preferred tourist destination for over 50 lakh people every year, cleanliness is maintained only during the flower festival. “Rest of the year, the hill city stinks,” they said.
Over 30 tonnes of solid waste is being generated everyday in the Yercaud village panchayat. But in the absence of any long-term plans or processing units, the garbage is dumped in the open. “The large quantity of non-biodegradable waste dumped in open is affecting the environment. No steps have been taken so far’, the residents lamented.
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If the present system of dumping garbage continues, tourist inflow will drop significantly in the coming months, they said. Block Development Officer Tulasiraman was unavailable for comment.