Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 |
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Tamil Nadu
By T.S. Shankar
MAMALLAPURAM, AUG. 2. Mamallapuram can be a dream destination to globetrotters. But, garbage and harassment by hawkers are turning tourists away from this world heritage site. While a master plan is in an advanced stage of implementation to keep Mamallapuram a `must-see' destination in south India, the tourist spot is crying for immediate attention to make it "garbage, encroachment and harassment-free''. Used plastic teacups are strewn around. Roadside hawkers and Nari Koravas sell ``souvenirs'', accosting the tourists. "We are flying to Chennai to see this rocky wonder at Mamallapuram. But there is no proper infrastructure or even pavements for us to move about freely to enjoy being in the world heritage monument town", said a German visitor, Tom Hilfiger. Also there is ``an entry fee discrimination ($ 5 for overseas visitors and Rs.10 for Indian nationals)'' to visit the group of monuments — the Shore Temple and Five Rathas — managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Relocation blues
The owners of over 80 identified commercial shops, predominant among them selling souvenirs and cafetarias adjoining the Shore Temple, are waiting for the Mamallapuram town panchayat, the Mamallapuram New Town Development Authority and the Central and State Tourism authorities to relocate them in a more organised area. ``We have been here for over 20 years. But, uncertainty still prevails when and how the relocation will take place. Several personal and written representations to the Kancheepuram Collector have not yielded results'', says Desikan, who sells soft drinks near the shore temple. As for shifting of sculptors, a new art bazaar complex is almost ready. But enquiries with them reveal that it is caught in a controversy over allocation of units. On the southern side of the Shore Temple, there are mounds of waste especially plastic garbage strewn around. The pavements have been encroached on by commercial establishments, predominant of them sculptors.
Eco-awareness project
The Lions Club of Mamallapuram has launched an eco-awareness project, christened ``clean and green Mamallapuram''. A corpus fund of Rs.15 lakhs has been earmarked to set up a waste disposal plant, roping in the Exnora services. Tourists have also to put up with ``pig menace''. ``We are not picking holes in the efforts of the State and Central Governments. But there has to be sustained efforts to keep Mamallapuram town clean as it attracts over 500 tourists daily during a non-peak season and over 2000 visitors during the peak tourist season'', explained the owner of a chain of resort hotels and restaurants. Travel buffs and Mamallapuram residents who are keen on preserving the tourist spot in its traditional greatness feel that the Central and State Governments should act quickly before it is too late.
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