Mudanthurai, August 15, 2013: Pilgrims converging in huge numbers at the Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple have a devastating impact on the Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, within which the temple is located, forest officials say. Pilgrim arrivals peak during the temple festival coinciding with ‘Aadi ammavasai’ every year.

Devotees camp in the reserve for close to 11 days, clearing vegetation, including rare species of cacti, and defecating in the open.

Research carried out by A.G. Murugesan, Professor, Sri Paramakalayani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurichi, for eight years between 2004 and 2011 show that the faecal content in the Tamirabharani, the drinking water source for Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Virudhunagar districts, rises from 40 MPN (Most Probable Number per 100 ml) on normal days to over 1,100 MPN during and after the festival, due to open defecation.

Students of the Government Residential High School, located near the Papanasam dam, along with the forest personnel, clear the garbage and plastic waste left behind by the pilgrim hordes.

Though the forest personnel, led by Deputy Director, KMTR’s Mundanthurai Division C. Gurusamy, seize banned articles, including tobacco products and liquor, at the entrance of the sanctuary, some devotees still manage to smuggle these items into the tiger reserve, as evidenced by the number of empty liquor bottles strewn around the forest area.

"We have so far collected nine truckloads of garbage discarded by the devotees during this year’s celebrations and the exercise continues to date. The drive may last for a few more days as the quantum of garbage dumped by the devotees is huge despite our best efforts in creating awareness among the visitors," said Jabez, Ranger, Mundanthurai Range of KMTR.

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 15, 2013.