The Department of Forest has taken a few constructive measures to regulate tourism and the tourists visiting Old Courtallam waterfalls during the upcoming season between June and August.

The Department of Forest, following Court directions and the guidelines of Tamil Nadu Ecotourism Policy pertaining to guaranteeing nature-friendly measures to be put in place in the tourist spots, has constituted ‘Vannapoorani Ecotourism Committee’ for managing the Old Courtallam waterfalls, where using soaps, shampoo, oil, detergents, one-time plastic products etc. has been prohibited.

“The tourists can’t even bring these banned products into the ecotourism area of Old Courtallam waterfalls,” says R. Rajmohan, District Forest Officer, Tenkasi.

The visitors, after paying the entry fee of ₹20 per person and parking their vehicles in designated areas, would be taken to the waterfalls in eco-friendly vehicles to be operated by the forest department or the ecotourism committee. Vehicles parked along the road or in banned areas would be towed away and fined heavily. Apart from these vehicles to be operated by the forest department and the ecotourism committee, authorised autorickshaws would be allowed up to specified points where the tourists should get down.

Open defecation, lighting fire in the forest, dumping of waste, liquor consumption inside the banned areas, harming the environment, using air horns in the jungle etc. would attract severe punishments including fine.

“The tourists will be allowed to reach the waterfalls only between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. based on its ‘carrying capacity’ to avert overcrowding and consequent commotions. Tourists will be prevented from going to the waterfalls whenever the movement of wild animals, particularly the camping of wild elephants, is spotted in the jungle around Old Courtallam waterfalls area and during heavy flooding. The Department of Forest will take appropriate decisions based on the situation and the decisions will be implemented by the forest personnel and the empowered ecotourism committee members. The movement of the tourists will be monitored by CCTV cameras fitted at vantage points. Since this initiative is being taken to ensure wildlife protection while giving streamlined livelihood to the locals, the visitors should cooperate with the Department of Forest,” Dr. Rajmohan said.

He said stringent action would be taken against those feeding wild animals, especially the monkeys.