A grama panchayat-owned plastic, including waste dumping in the stream and roadside at the Munnar-Bodimettu Highway, poses a threat to the wild tusker Padayappa, along with other wild animals. According to sources, Devikulam Panchayat near Munnar hill station in Idukki disposes of plastic, including legacy waste, near the roadside due to the absence of a proper waste treatment plant. Devikulam is one of the prime tourist locations in Munnar, attracting lakhs of tourists every year.
“The plastic, including waste, was largely dumped near the Lockhart factory near Devikulam and around 500 meters from the toll plaza in Devikulam on the highway. The road and nearby plantations are the regular path of tusker Padayappa, along with other wild elephants. Tusker Padayappa was seen on the road for hours on Monday morning. Wild elephants searching for food from the waste dumped in sacks is a regular scene on the stretch,” said a source.
Team Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS) president R. Mohan said that the government should take immediate steps to allot land to the panchayat for the waste treatment plant. “The plastic, including legacy waste, attracts wild elephants and other animals to the dumping yard. The waste dumping also poses a threat to the wild elephants,” said Mr. Mohan.
