Coimbatore: With no rain in the catchment areas of the Kovai Kuttralam falls, water level at the Eco Tourism hotspot in the outskirts of the city continues to decrease.
Coimbatore: With no rain in the catchment areas of the Kovai Kuttralam falls, water level at the Eco Tourism hotspot in the outskirts of the city continues to decrease.
The facility was closed last Tuesday (25th of March) due to drought as the water level was very low.
District Forest Officer D. Venkatesh had earlier said that the area would be closed until the water level increases after rain.
He had also stated that the area was closed due to high movement of elephants near the area.
According to officials, since the stream from the falls is the only water source in the area, more elephants had camped there which could be a threat to tourists.
Tribal people who live in the hamlets nearby are also using the area for bathing and other purposes.
The area was also prone to forest fire because of the drought, which was also a reason for the closure.
Since rain has not hit the region so far, the closure of eco tourism continues leaving hundreds of tourists disappointed.
Activists on the other hand have lauded the forest department for taking a good decision, considering the safety of animals and the forest.
“It is essential that the region is left to recuperate itself and the animals survive on the little water that is available. It would help in the growth of the forest and improve quality of life for the wild animals,” said an activist.