Cleaning campaign at ooty

A mass cleaning campaign by officials of the Forest Department, the Nilgiris South Division and volunteers marked the World Environment Day here on Tuesday.

Led by the District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris South, Rakesh Kumar Jagenia, the participants armed with spikes, baskets and gunny bags fanned out to different places, including the highly abused film-shooting hill, a scenic spot on Ooty-Gudalur Road. Caps and T-shirts were provided to them by the food and beverage multinational PepsiCo.

Claiming that the response to the campaign had been good, Mr. Jagenia told that some tourists had also extended support to the effort.

Pointing out that the main reason for such beautiful and eco-sensitive spots getting littered was due to the callous outlook of many of the tourists, he said that through a sustained campaign it was possible to bring about an attitudinal change. If they were sensitised to the catastrophic consequences of taking nature for granted, they would cooperate in protecting places like the film shooting hill. Love for nature should be inculcated among the tourists.