More bins placed to tackle littering by pilgrims at Vellingiri hills

Waste strewn by pilgrims at Poondi at the Vellingiri foothills near Coimbatore. 
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Forest Department has placed additional bins along the trekking route at Vellingiri Hills to address the issue of plastic waste littered by pilgrims.

The initiative follows reports of plastic waste being discarded at several locations along the 6.5 km trekking route, starting from the Vellingiri Andavar temple at Poondi.

Some 40 bins have been placed along the route, said District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj.

Department staff and volunteers are also clearing the waste periodically from the pilgrimage site located in the Boluvampatti forest range of the Coimbatore Forest Division.

Pilgrims are screened at the base by the Forest Department staff and are allowed to carry packaged drinking water after paying a refundable deposit of ₹20 per bottle. While the empty water bottles are returned after the pilgrims return downhill, plastic wrappers of biscuits, chocolates and other snacks purchased along the route can often be seen discarded along the trekking route.

A nature enthusiast from Coimbatore said that the checking by the staff at the base is not always effective, allowing pilgrims to carry biscuits, chips, chocolates and other snacks that come in plastic packets, leaving the forest littered with empty wrappers.

“The checking at the base has to be strengthened. Shops at the base and along the trekking routes must be encouraged to sell snacks that can be carried in paper bags or wraps,” he said.