Mysore/Mysuru: While many institutions, residents associations, NGOs and government bodies were busy planting saplings and watering them inside their premises in Mysuru yesterday as part of World Environment Day, a group of youths ventured into the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve near Anechowkur Gate to pick up trash by the side of the roads that had been mindlessly discarded by commuters.

The initiative was led by Coorg Wildlife Society (CWS) in association with the Forest Department and by the time the cleaning campaign ended, two truckloads of plastic waste and trash were collected. Over 110 people drawn from the CWS, students of Mysore University, Mysore Institute of Commerce and Arts (MICA) and Coorg Institute of Technology  (CIT), Ponnampet, were part of the clean-up, supported by over 50 Forest Department staff.

This is for the first time such a campaign was held inside the reserve forest and in all, a 25-kilometre stretch was cleaned on both sides. The participants were divided into three groups and the drive began at Anechowkur Gate on the Mysuru-Kodagu border. While one group proceeded towards Boodithittu near Periyapatna, the other two cleaned the roadsides till Allur Gate and Mathigodu Elephant Camp.

Three Range Forest Officers (RFOs) were guiding the cleaning drive and at the same time keeping an eye on wild animals.

 According to CWS office-bearer Karthamada Naveen Bopaiah, on average over 100 vehicles pass through this stretch in just one hour and most of the vehicles are Kerala-registered as the road connects Mysuru and Kerala via Kodagu. Regular commuters discard empty food plastic containers, water bottles, covers and even garbage. “There is not much awareness here like in Bandipur where littering is completely banned and all those who enter the reserve forests are warned of penal action. Here the commuters just throw waste and speed away,” he said.

At the entrance of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, gates must be erected and each vehicle stopping by must be made aware of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), he opined and also regretted that law permits levying a fine of Rs. 1,000 for any violation. “Rs. 1,000 is a paltry amount. Punishment must be stringent and steep fines must act as a deterrent,” he said.