Restrictions on the entry of tourists and vehicles into the biodiversity-rich Kas plateau could be imposed this monsoon, if the forest department implements recommendations ofUnesco, activists and locals. The forest department and residents of four villages - Kas, Ekiw, Atali and Kasani - that flank the famous Kas plateau will now chalk out a tourism plan ahead of the monsoon to minimize the threat to its biodiversity.

Kas plateau in Satara district, which is on Unesco's world heritage list, transforms into a beautiful carpet of multi-coloured flowers during the rainy season, attracting thousands of tourists every year. While steps were initiated even last year, that included restricting the number of tourists to 2,000 every day and also making it mandatory for them to register online before travelling to the area, they weren't implemented earnestly as per a report in TOI.

"Not everyone who came to visit the area was aware of the restrictions or the requirement for online registration. On one occasion, we had as many as 16,000 tourists coming on a single day," said C V Hulle the range forest officer of Medha in Satara district. He, however, added that decisions taken last year will be visited afresh. "On May 29, we will hold a meeting with the representatives of the four villages and the president and secretary of the forest management committee to discuss how many tourists will be allowed to visit the area daily," Hulle said.

Nestled in the Sahyadri range, the Kas plateau is home to an estimated 850 species of flowering plants, of which about 450 wild flower species of wild flowers bloom during the monsoon months. Nearly 1,500 plant species, including several endangered varieties, are found on the plateau. The forest department has already divided the 570 hectare area of Kas plateau into four blocks. In each block an area of one square kilometre has been demarcated where visitors will be allowed to view the plants up close. These portions have been fenced off from the rest of the plateau where tourists are not allowed.

Tourists are not exactly an evil for the plateau. Hulle said the influx of tourists in the area was important for conservation efforts. Last year, the department made more than Rs 11 lakh from visitors though various charges. "This money was channelled back into developing the villages. It has enabled the distribution of over a hundred LPG gas connections and 20 smokeless chulhas in the villages which has brought down the felling of trees for firewood by 50%," Hulle said, adding that the account of how the money collected from tourists has been spent will be displayed on a signboard in the villages.

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News