The historic Kondaveedu Fort, which is drawing huge crowds on the weekends ever since a ghat road was laid to the spot, is also drawing a lot of unwanted attention in the form of unruly visitors who litter the area with plastic and empty alcohol bottles.
The secluded fort is becoming a haven of sorts for tipplers who are leaving a mess in their wake, say forest officials.
The Forest Department has now set its sights on protecting the pristine and fragile ecology of the hill fort by resorting to a series of measures.
“We will enforce all rules under the Forest Conservation Act and restore the pristine glory of the forest. Kondaveedu Fort is a protected Reserve Forest Area notified in 1898, but indiscriminate construction activity is threatening its rich biological diversity. We also want to regulate the massive inflow by placing a gate and enforce a strict no-alcohol policy by placing breathalysers on the foothills,” said Divisional Forest Officer B. Vijaya Kumar.
Mr. Vijaya Kumar on Tuesday went around the hill fort with beat officers and identified several issues.
The Forest Department had earlier planned to develop the hill fort as an eco-tourism centre and had even set up gazebos, pergolas and pavilions but they have not been erected properly. The department now plans to restore its ecological balance.
The historic fort, located about 18 km from Guntur, was the capital city of the Reddi kings and also served as a capital during the rule of Bahmanis and Golconda Sultans during the 12th century and the latter half of the 15th century. However, it soon saw a period of decline subsequently. Thanks to the initiative of Kalli Siva Reddy and other locals, a 4.3 km long ghat road was laid recently to the fort.
