I visited the district of Hogenakkal in January 2015, and I was shocked to see how the Hogenakkal falls (India’s answer to the United States’ Niagara falls) was being treated by the locals. Though there were many sign boards requesting the clean maintenance of the Kaveri river, which meant no bathing there, no washing clothes, no discarding waste material and so on, the locals seemed not to care, and even in the presence of police officers, continued their activities. There were also a few unattended clothes in the river, meaning that those who washed their clothes there may have lost them.
I crossed a bridge there, but saw that the concrete base holding its ropes was heavily vandalised with graffiti. The climate of the place was good though -neither too cold nor too hot- and was very scenic. An officer from Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) said, ”We have been doing our jobs at Hogenakkal, but maintaining the condition of the falls is not our responsibility, but that of the local police and the district level authorities.”
The officer also added that discarding plastic cups in the open is illegal, but due to lack of seriousness among the people there, it persistently occurs. When asked if the language of the signboards was a barrier to the cleanliness campaign, he said, “Even Tamil sign boards exist, yet they are disregarded by the locals and tourists.”
There exists a basic rule there that plastic should not be sold in these areas. But still, vendors and salesmen continue selling fruits in plastic cups. Rather than plastic, they could be using paper cups. If people continue to throw these plastic cups around excessively over a long period of time, it will definitely create severe problems. It could eventually lead to the area becoming like that of Earth in the film Wall-E, i.e. a situation so polluted and trashed that would make it uninhabitable for anyone.
There was also a very successful measure introduced by the district’s former collector, who posted a sub-inspector beside the hanging bridge. He would confiscate all bottles or cups and break them on the spot, so they would not pollute the area surrounding the falls. This measure however has been discontinued after the collector was transferred.
Unregulated tourism is the main factor that threatens to degrade the environment at Hogenakkal falls. Though there is a forest check post at the entrance of the falls, 10 kilometres downhill, the area is full of plastics and liquor bottles. Cooking fish is also common, while hawkers and masseurs too spoil the surroundings. It is a disgrace that such a beautiful location has been littered so much.
According to the Forest Department, the hanging bridge was closed to prevent people from accessing the Cine Falls that was unsafe. It was also to prevent the people from littering the place. But for those who can afford coracle rides, access to the same areas is allowed. As the litter piles up destroying the beauty of the water falls, the monkeys that are part of the forest ecosystem are also forced to endure such misery.
Today, the place has degraded a lot from what it was years ago, and rather than improving, continues to deteriorate. The cause is predominantly pollution and negligence. The maddening crowd, irresponsible administration and the “not-so-aware” villagers are least bothered about the place being endangered. The waterfall which once basked in its glory now is filled with plastic waste and stagnant dirt. One can see people performing last rituals (pinda) right beside the bathing place, while many others washing clothes just beside that. Floating shops in parisals are a major attraction but nobody bothers to collect the plastic waste thrown into the river because of these shops. Hogenakkal claims to have a “plastic free” environment, but the reality is quite different. This place is full of plastic and waste. The government collects about Rs. 30 from each vehicle for entrance and parking but seems to do little about the cleanliness and facilities here. If this continues, Hogenakkal's pride and glory may one day become history.
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