Increase in tourist arrivals in Valparai trigger fear of Coronavirus spread; Social activists demand beefing up of security measures to prevent Covid-19 spread
Coimbatore: Even as restrictions from the total lockdown owing to Coronavirus safety measures have been eased, tourists have been thronging Valparai.
This has triggered a fear among locals and the district administration that Covid-19 related infections could increase due to the nonchalant attitude of tourists roaming freely in Valparai without face masks and oblivious to social distancing.
In the Valparai hills of Coimbatore District, tourists attractions like Sholayar Dam, Koozhangal River, Nallamudi Pooncholai and tea plantations are a huge draw for tourists right around the year. With both the first and second waves of Coronavirus hitting the tourism industry across the State badly for almost two years, due to lockdowns, the Tamil Nadu government had announced a relaxation of lockdown restrictions in the past few days.
During weekends, the number of tourists entering Valparai has increased, especially near the Koozhangal River and Sholayar Dam areas. Tourists can be seen bathing and playing in the Koozhangal River, flouting all Covid-19 safety protocols as well as oblivious to the flooding that could occur if heavy rains lash these tourist areas.
Shocked social activists are urging Valparai police to beef up security in these tourist spots. En route to Valparai, the Forest Department check post at Aliyar demands a customary check of all vehicles entering Valparai. Currently, tourists prefer Valparai as a since mandatory Covid-19 RT-PCR tests are not required to visit Valparai.
At the Aliyar check post, the Forest Department, Police Department and Health Department are now stopping vehicles to check if people entering Valparai have certificates clearing Covid-19 RT-PCR tests as well as their registered Aadhar cards, and only then allowing the tourists to enter Valparai.
This has triggered a fear among locals and the district administration that Covid-19 related infections could increase due to the nonchalant attitude of tourists roaming freely in Valparai without face masks and oblivious to social distancing.
In the Valparai hills of Coimbatore District, tourists attractions like Sholayar Dam, Koozhangal River, Nallamudi Pooncholai and tea plantations are a huge draw for tourists right around the year. With both the first and second waves of Coronavirus hitting the tourism industry across the State badly for almost two years, due to lockdowns, the Tamil Nadu government had announced a relaxation of lockdown restrictions in the past few days.
During weekends, the number of tourists entering Valparai has increased, especially near the Koozhangal River and Sholayar Dam areas. Tourists can be seen bathing and playing in the Koozhangal River, flouting all Covid-19 safety protocols as well as oblivious to the flooding that could occur if heavy rains lash these tourist areas.
Shocked social activists are urging Valparai police to beef up security in these tourist spots. En route to Valparai, the Forest Department check post at Aliyar demands a customary check of all vehicles entering Valparai. Currently, tourists prefer Valparai as a since mandatory Covid-19 RT-PCR tests are not required to visit Valparai.
At the Aliyar check post, the Forest Department, Police Department and Health Department are now stopping vehicles to check if people entering Valparai have certificates clearing Covid-19 RT-PCR tests as well as their registered Aadhar cards, and only then allowing the tourists to enter Valparai.