In Focus | Pollution of Western Ghats goes on unabated as authorities look the other way Premium

The visitors discarding plastic bags, liquor bottles and other garbage in the Western Ghat ranges without a second thought is posing a serious threat to the sensitive ecology and rich wildlife of the region.

Kyathanamakki Gudda or Gali Gudda near the temple town Horanadu in Chikkamagaluru district is among the less explored peaks on the eco-sensitive Western Ghats. Yet, one can see empty plastic water bottles, wrappers of eatables, sachets, cigarette butts and discarded beer bottles on top of this hill station.

Sri Kalasheswara Grama Aranya Samithi, Kalasa, under Karnataka Forest Department in Chikkamagaluru district, collects ₹50 per head as entry fee from the visitors, who can also hire a jeep to the peak from Kyathanamakki or walk. The entry fee slip issued at the forest check post clearly says that pitching tent, lighting camp fire, consumption of liquor and discarding plastic material is prohibited. But the person who issues tickets never checks what a visitor carries with them while entering or returning. If a visitor throws any waste on the peak of the gudda there is none to check. When this reporter visited the peak on February 6, 2024, two groups of people were busy with pre-wedding shoots.

Yettina Bhuja or Ettina Bhuja is a popular destination in the same district on the ghats. The gate keeping here is no different. A forest department staff at the base of the hillock only collects the entry fee and allows anyone to carry eatables, plastic carry bags, water bottles and so on. This reporter who visited the peak on October 28, 2023, could see plastic bottles, and covers thrown by visitors on its peak and stray dogs devouring left-over food.

Asked about allowing everything to the peak, the Forest Department staff on duty replied, “All those who arrive here are educated people. Many have good jobs. There is nothing much to advise them.” He said that a group of youth from Bengaluru had picked up from the peak all plastic materials, which made up about four to five jeep loads.

“Our family returned with a bag full of plastic bottles and plastic covers collected from the peak of Yettina Bhuja when we visited it last April,” recalled K.A. Nagesh, a doctor from Hassan.

Dinesh Holla, convener, Sahyadri Sanchaya, a body of green activists in Mangaluru, and an avid trekker on the Western Ghats said, “Last year, I saw a tourist holding a beer bottle on the Kudremukh peak. When I questioned, he shot back that he had paid the fee of ₹500 to the Forest Department as entry fee. The attitude is that he is entitled to do anything as he had paid the fee.”

The plastic menace has spoilt Devaramane, Kumara Parvatha, Kudremukh, Hirimariguppe, Rushyashringa, Mullayyanagiri, Baba Budangiri which are frequented by trekkers and tourists, he said.