Tourists demand basic amenities at Kovai Kutralam

COIMBATORE: Though Kovai Kutralam, a scenic getaway spot nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, is drawing tourists in large numbers, it lacks basic amenities.
Tourists from other parts of the country have also started visiting the waterfalls this year. Over 10,500 people visited last weekend and 2,500 between Monday and Friday, an official said.
As the crowd surges, demand for basic amenities has gone up. "There are two toilets at the entrance parking and some more have been set up near the waterfalls. But they are not enough. People are pouring in till the last minute and it becomes difficult to use the facilities," Santhosh, a tourist from Chennai, told TOI.
To meet the demand, eco-friendly mobile toilets can be deployed, another tourist said. "Also, the queue at the ticket collection centre is spilling over to the entrance check post, causing congestion and choking the movement of vehicles. So, a separate line can be made to avoid congestion."
With the monsoon around the corner, tree houses need to be restored. "During rainy days, the roof leaks. Strong winds cause power outages and as a result, water cannot be pumped to fill the overhead tank," a tourist said.
The forest department has set up toilets and mobile toilets for visitors, Boluvampatti forest range officer T Suseendranath said. "To meet the growing demand, we will arrange more mobile toilets. The hanging wooden bridge will be restored at a cost of 30 lakh. A proposal has been sent to set up an interpretation centre to create awareness about biodiversity of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve," he told TOI.