Cleaning drive in Munnar hill station removes 55 tonnes of waste

The waste collected from the mega-cleaning drive in Munnar hill station in Idukki.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

To make Munnar hill station a zero-waste tourism destination, Munnar panchayat conducted a 13-day-long mega-cleaning drive, which collected 55 tonnes of waste.

According to officials, the clean-up drive was led by Munnar panchayat in collaboration with Hilldaari and multiple stakeholders.

Nearly 1,000 volunteers from 45 different groups joined the initiative. According to officials, the initiative was aimed against the rising waste crisis in the eco-sensitive region, ensuring the preservation of Munnar’s natural beauty.

Commenting on the initiative, Munnar Panchayat secretary G.P. Udaya Kumar said that out of 55 tonnes of waste, 49 tonnes were plastic waste. The clean-up covered 16 clusters across Munnar, targeting waste accumulation in public spaces, water bodies, and commercial areas.

“The volunteers collected waste from the roadside, the dam, the river, and the town. The panchayat has received support from all corners, including Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP), Merchant Association, Auto-Taxi workers, My Munnar Movement, Fire Force, Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS), Suchithwa Mission, Haritha Kerala Mission Kudumbasree, and Haritha Karma Sena members. Political parties and many other associations also joined the initiative,” said Mr. Udaya Kumar.

Mr. Udayakumar said that the panchayat plans to ensure Munnar is a clean destination in the future and ensure a follow-up for the cleaning works. The panchayat will call a meeting to discuss how to make Munnar a clean destination in the coming days. Representatives from various sectors will be called. The panchayat plans to form a cluster-level committee to ensure the cleaning in each single area of the destination, said the official.

In addition, the panchayat will take strict action against those who litter waste in the river and the roadside in Munnar. A fine of ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 will be imposed. The panchayat will take legal action against those who fail to pay the fine, Mr. Kumar said

The panchayat authorities said that the Haritha Karma Sena will continue the drive till March 31.

R. Mohan, President of the Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS), who participated in the cleaning drive, observed that the plastic, including waste dumping, posed a serious threat to wild elephants and other animals. “Wild elephants are one of the major attractions and are common in the Munnar hill station. During the cleaning drive, we found huge amounts of plastic deposited on the roadside and the river,” he said.

G. Sojan, coordinator of the My Munnar Movement, an initiative to promote the tourism prospects in Munnar, said that tourists from around the globe arrive at the destination to enjoy the beauty of the hill station. “The scenes of waste dumped is not a good view for tourists,” he said.