ristine Kuntala waterfalls turns into dumping yard

Story/Place - Hyderabad

Sudipta Sengupta Aug 28, 2011,




HYDERABAD: From being a picturesque site with pristine surroundings, the Kuntala waterfalls in Adilabad has now turned into a foul-smelling open dump yard. Environmentalists familiar with this area rue how this 147-feet-tall waterfall, the highest in Andhra Pradesh, is now lost in stink and garbage littered around. this once peaceful weekend holiday destination.

The lack of surveillance by local forest officials has further worsened matters, they allege, with revellers from neighbouring districts using the eco-tourism site to indulge in unscrupulous activities.

"The first thing that catches your eye as you walk into the area is the sight of people consuming alcohol around the waterfall. There are bottles, food packets and other junk strewn all over. It is absolutely appalling," said city-based wildlife activist Diya Banerjee, who recently visited the waterfall. She added, "In fact, locals appointed to watch over the tourist spot too seemed to be having a good time. Nobody seemed bothered about the mess."


With the Kuntala waterfall located in the dense Nirmal forest, not too far away from the Kawal wildlife sanctuary, environmentalists fear that these activities, if not checked, can impact the rich bio-diversity of the region. Pointing out how this 'sensitive' forest zone is home to a large number of birds and wild animals, such as langurs, they said it was important to look after its upkeep to ensure a proper ecological balance. "But unfortunately, most eco-tourism sites across AP are in a similar condition, thanks to the negligence of concerned authorities," said Farida Tampal, state director of World Wildlife Foundation-India (WWF).

source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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