Pournami Ann Jose

 

Ignore it, deny it or zone it out, but plastic waste accumulation and its ill effects are going to hit us hard on our faces sooner than we think. Water bodies and land fills are overflowing with plastic litter, and it stays on unmoved and unchanged. Many of us don’t care about this. As long as we are not affected directly, we don’t bother. We can hardly see any individual efforts being made. It is disheartening, but true.

In this setting, it is heartwarming to see Kumarakom, a pristine village on the backwaters of Kottayam, committed to becoming Kerala’s first plastic-free tourist destination in January 2020. This is a part of the ‘Responsible Tourism’ initiative by the Kerala government and local bodies of other stakeholders. As part of the initiative, Vembanad lake and its banks were cleaned, and a whopping 55 truckloads of plastic waste was removed. It is estimated that around 500 kg of plastic is dumped into the lake daily only through tourism. This is a huge number. It can severely affect the sensitive ecosystem in the lake and result in death of many many sea creatures. Kumarakom did the right thing by adopting the green initiative.

So, how exactly is the plastic usage going to be abolished? Here is how:
1. All employees across hotels and resorts were trained over a two month period to prepare them for this transition.
2. Glass bottles will replace plastic ones.
3. One-time use plastic products will be prohibited.
4. Paper/bamboo straws will replace plastic ones.
5. Awareness pamphlets will be distributed to guests.
6. Plastic collection centres will be opened to collect plastic, which will then be recycled.
7. Cloth bags will replace plastic ones.

We are sure that the new Kumarakom will have much more insights to offer about our responsibilities to the nature.
A plastic-free Kumarakom would be much more enticing. Come and experience this bliss. Return to your homes and try to recreate this bliss from your very own kitchens by switching to glass/steel utensils, and carrying cloth bags for grocery shopping.

Happy greenifying!

Pournami Ann Jose

About Kumarakom

When one thinks of Kumarakom, scenes of backwaters and peculiarly built Kumarakom houseboats flash across the mind in various shades. Also awarded best responsible tourism destination by UNTWO & eco-friendly backwater destination in Kerala Kumarkaom is homeland to a unique backwater lifestyle. The city is richly connected with many natural and man-made canals and streams, which eventually merges into lake Vembanad. It is no wonder then that the major tourist attraction of this destination is the mesmerizing backwaters. The best way to enjoy these bewitching canals & backwaters is through renting a ethnic Kumarakom houseboat. These boats have a long history with the region, and are the perfect way to relax and savor the leisurely pace of journey. The most of the houseboats can be hired from the gateway to the backwaters in between Kumarakom and Kollam. One can spend either a few hours or a couple of days in the boat, which caters everything a five-star hotel would provide. Kumarakom Houseboat cruises with or with out stay are the must try activity whilst in Kumarakom