TRICHY: The tragic wildfire accident in Kurugumalai of Theni may have a knock-on effect on the ongoing eco-tourism prgrammes as the authorities are likely to suspend trekking as a precaution to avoid similar incidents.
The forest department has sought the status of the eco-tourism activities in every district especially about the trekking expedition being conducted. Sources said that authorities might put on hold activities during this summer.
While Patchamalai hills in Trichy has been offering
trekking activities under the eco-tourism activities, the Kurangani accident may prove out to be a setback. Only recently the forest department has slashed the cost of its accommodation and trekking activities which increased the tourist flow to the hill.
However, visitors may stay at Machan which are put up by the forest department at eco-tourism centre Top Sengattupatti. The foresters have identified a total of four trekking routes snaking along some of the scenic forest that cuts through three waterfalls.
Forest department has been prompting eco-tourism activities in the hill with the participation of tribal community at
Patcahmalai over the past few months. “We have received some bookings for next month as well,” said Trichy district forest officer D Sujatha. She said that decision would be made as per the instruction from the headquarters.
Though the Trichy forest situated in the tail-end of Eastern Ghats is one of the hottest regions in the state, there are apparently no continuous forest ranges that can naturally prevent huge wildfire, said conservation scientist A Kumaraguru.
However, preventive steps including the creation of fire lines and employing fire watchers have to be should be taken to curtail any eventuality, he said.
Speaking on the preparedness for any forest fire, she said that a total 22 spots have been identified as areas vulnerable to
forest fire in all four forest ranges in the Trchy forest. While Thuraiyur forest range is more prone to fire, we have been carrying out work on creating fire lines in the forest areas as preventive measures.
“While villagers are engaged to alert authorities in case of emergency, we have posted about 100 fire watchers on temporary work for about 100 days under the joint forest management program,” said a forest officer.
