This is an archive article published on September 7, 2024
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Increasing tourists pose grave danger to hill stations: Kerala HC on Wayanad landslides
The court observed that estimation of carrying capacity and capping the number of vehicles and visitors entering the hill stations in the state is in the best interests of all.
The court observed that estimation of carrying capacity and capping the number of vehicles and visitors entering the hill stations in the state is in the best interests of all.
A division bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday called for the state government to conduct a carrying capacity assessment of all hill stations in the state and submit a consolidated report by October 25.
The bench of A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Syam Kumar V M, in a suo motu case initiated after the recent Wayanad landslide, observed that there is a need to regulate the unbridled inflow of tourists into hill stations. Carrying capacity assessment of hill stations can be done to guide policy makers and administrations to devise a system of management of tourist areas in the interest of ecology and preservation.
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The court observed, “The hill stations in Kerala are among the most sought after tourist destinations in India, and the increasing number of tourists and the corresponding unscientific infrastructure development in response to the same, pose a grave danger to the hill stations. Mushrooming of buildings and entertainment facilities has led to a concrete overburden on the hills, and coupled with levelling activities they are said to be the leading causes of landslides in the various locations in the state.”
The court observed that estimation of carrying capacity and capping the number of vehicles and visitors entering the hill stations in the state is in the best interests of all.
Wayanad is one of the prominent hill stations in Kerala, mainly attracting domestic tourists. The landslides of July 30 had badly hit the hospitality sector in the district. Meppadi panchayat, where the landslides killed over 200 people and left several still missing, is a major hub of resorts and homestays. Resorts in the worst-hit villages of Chooralmala, Attamala, and Mundakkai have remained closed since the tragedy.
The court observed that estimation of carrying capacity and capping the number of vehicles and visitors entering the hill stations in the state is in the best interests of all.
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