The Devikulam Revenue Divisional Officer has formed a special squad to monitor trekking and off-roading on high ranges.
The squad comprising officials of various departments will draw up the guidelines to be followed while trekking in the dangerous terrains of the region.
It will be ensured that trekking is done only on routes and areas approved by the authorities.
A meeting of the Disaster Management Committee on Saturday, presided over by the District Collector, decided to take stern action against illegal trekking in forest areas.
Kurangini wildfire
Officials of the Forest Department told the meeting that all trekking conducted by eco-development committees had been stopped in the wake of the Kurangini wildfire accident.
The special squad has already inspected the trekking points at Vellathooval and Rajakkad. The squad will also inspect the areas in Kolukkumala, Marayur, Chinnar, Kanthalloor, and Vattavada where off-roading is conducted. Vehicles used by private agencies to conduct off-roading will be inspected and certificates of drivers verified.
Many accidents
There are reports that off-roading conducted by private agencies lead to a number of accidents in the district. Most vehicles used for off-roading lacked safety measures and many of them are re-conditioned old jeeps.
Three fatal accidents were reported last year after such vehicles overturned. Many minor accidents go unreported. Thirteen people were injured when a jeep fell into a gorge at Wagamon in May last.
Tourists were packed into such vehicles without any regulations, said an official of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) adding that in almost all the hill spots, including Ramakkalmedu and Wagamon, jeeps conduct unauthorised parallel off-roading.
Unauthorised off-roading is also conducted at Chinnakanal, Mankulam, Anachal, Chithirapuram, Suryanelly, and Pallivasal. In most of the accident cases, there was no insurance coverage for the victims.
The drivers lacked experience in driving through the tough terrain.
Special licence
Permitting only mechanically tested vehicles and giving special licence with a validity of six months to experienced drivers for conducting off-roading were among the suggestions that came up at the meeting.
