Initiative to Make Ayodhya Hills in West Bengal, India, an Eco-Friendly Tourist Zone.
The administration aims to make Ajodhya Hillsls, a popular tourist destination in Purulia, a plastic-free zone by this winter season. A meeting was held between the Purulia district administration, various departments, and hotel owners to discuss this initiative.
Several measures were taken to further promote tourism in the district. The meeting primarily focused on four key issues. Tourists are concerned about the insufficient public restrooms at several sites in Ayodhya Hills.
Recently, the homestay operators brought this issue to the administration’s attention, prompting the Purulia district administration to take action.
During the meeting, the administration requested the Forest Department to take steps to build restrooms at all tourist spots. If this is not possible, the Forest Department was asked to construct the necessary facilities.
In response, the Forest Department assured that they would take appropriate action. Rajesh Rathore, Additional District Magistrate for Land and Tourism, stated, “We held a meeting to promote tourism and made several decisions.”
A survey by the Purulia district administration showed that from November of last year to April of this year, around 70,000 tourists visited the district each month.
Purulia is emerging as a major tourist destination, second only to Darjeeling in terms of popularity. The district administration has played a significant role in promoting the scenic beauty of Ayodhya Hills.
Private investments in ecotourism projects like Kushalpalli have boosted the district’s visibility in West Bengal’s tourism. The Ayodhya Hills and Matha Eco-Tourism Project have been key attractions for domestic and international tourists.
With this in mind, the Purulia district administration is determined to declare Ayodhya Hills a plastic-free zone. Although this initiative had been attempted before, it was not successful.
The administration had previously introduced the use of sal leaf plates, made by self-help groups, to discourage the use of Thermocol and plastic by picnic-goers. However, this initiative did not gain much traction, similar to an earlier attempt to make Garh Panchkot a plastic-free zone.
This time, the district administration is committed to making Ayodhya Hills completely plastic-free. Kushal Palli has already banned the use of plastic in its projects, offering water to tourists in glass bottles. They also recycle waste to produce organic compost for their farms.
The administration plans to follow this model for Ayodhya Hills. The Bagmundi Block administration will collect and process waste from government and private tourism projects for a small fee as part of a solid waste management project.
In addition to creating a plastic-free zone, the Purulia district administration is also addressing noise pollution. During the winter season, loud sound systems are commonly used by picnic groups, causing disturbances in the surrounding areas.
To protect the wildlife in the forests around the hills, the administration has decided to regulate noise levels. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Forest Department, Electricity Department, Police, and the Industrial Center.
