IGNATIUS PEREIRA
The Forest Department is initiating strong measures to get rid of plastic waste left behind by visitors to forest areas. The measures include prosecuting those found dumping plastic and other waste in forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
Chief of the Forest Force R. Raja Raja Varma told The Hindu that dumping of plastic waste in certain forest areas with a heavy flow of visitors had assumed ominous proportions. In view of the situation, Mr. Varma, on instructions from Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, issued directions to the department on January 22 to clear plastic waste from all forest areas of the State within 15 days.
The cleaning operation is being carried out on a war-footing by the department personnel and volunteers of the local Environment Development Committees and the Vana Samrakshana Samithis.
Mr. Varma said he would review the operation at the State level on Tuesday. Apart from huge quantities of plastic bottles, packets and containers with food waste were also dumped. Many animals were attracted by the salt content of such food, and even consumed the containers because of the salt traces in it. This had proved fatal for many animals. Plastic had also been found in the droppings of animals, including elephants and deer. During the digestion process, it inflicted serious damage on the animals’ intestines, proving fatal in the long run, he said.
The environmental degradation to forest areas because of the dumping of plastic was severe, he said.
This had compelled the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic items into forest areas, he said. Vehicles would be checked at all entry points as a preventive measure.
A measure contemplated by the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic water bottles into the forest areas was to sell its own Sabari brand of water to the visitors and charge them Rs.5 more. This would be refunded when the visitor returned and submitted the empty bottle at the forest counter. The proposal would be implemented soon at the Palaruvi waterfalls, coming under the Aryankavu forest range in Kollam district.
Mr. Varma said information on all prosecution measures would be passed on to the media so that it acted as a deterrent. Boards would be prominently displayed in all forest areas where visitors were permitted to warn them of prosecution if plastic and other waste were dumped. Details of the punishment for the offence would also be put up. The boards were being designed at the forest headquarters to maintain uniformity, he said.
Visitors parking their vehicles inside forest areas and feeding wild animals would also invite prosecution, Mr. Varma said. He said visitors should not feed the animals since the animals knew how to forage for food. Providing them food could even erode the natural instincts of the animals to look for food, and they could become dependent on the food provided by visitors, he said.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/forest-department-wields-the-stick-against-plastic/article4352453.ece
Dumping to invite prosecution; all plastic waste to be cleared
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| One with nature:A plastic-free forest area under the Edamalayar range where visitors are not permitted. — Photo: C. Suresh Kumar |
Chief of the Forest Force R. Raja Raja Varma told The Hindu that dumping of plastic waste in certain forest areas with a heavy flow of visitors had assumed ominous proportions. In view of the situation, Mr. Varma, on instructions from Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, issued directions to the department on January 22 to clear plastic waste from all forest areas of the State within 15 days.
The cleaning operation is being carried out on a war-footing by the department personnel and volunteers of the local Environment Development Committees and the Vana Samrakshana Samithis.
Mr. Varma said he would review the operation at the State level on Tuesday. Apart from huge quantities of plastic bottles, packets and containers with food waste were also dumped. Many animals were attracted by the salt content of such food, and even consumed the containers because of the salt traces in it. This had proved fatal for many animals. Plastic had also been found in the droppings of animals, including elephants and deer. During the digestion process, it inflicted serious damage on the animals’ intestines, proving fatal in the long run, he said.
The environmental degradation to forest areas because of the dumping of plastic was severe, he said.
This had compelled the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic items into forest areas, he said. Vehicles would be checked at all entry points as a preventive measure.
Water bottles
A measure contemplated by the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic water bottles into the forest areas was to sell its own Sabari brand of water to the visitors and charge them Rs.5 more. This would be refunded when the visitor returned and submitted the empty bottle at the forest counter. The proposal would be implemented soon at the Palaruvi waterfalls, coming under the Aryankavu forest range in Kollam district.
Mr. Varma said information on all prosecution measures would be passed on to the media so that it acted as a deterrent. Boards would be prominently displayed in all forest areas where visitors were permitted to warn them of prosecution if plastic and other waste were dumped. Details of the punishment for the offence would also be put up. The boards were being designed at the forest headquarters to maintain uniformity, he said.
Visitors parking their vehicles inside forest areas and feeding wild animals would also invite prosecution, Mr. Varma said. He said visitors should not feed the animals since the animals knew how to forage for food. Providing them food could even erode the natural instincts of the animals to look for food, and they could become dependent on the food provided by visitors, he said.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/forest-department-wields-the-stick-against-plastic/article4352453.ece
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