Chinnakanal: Garbage heaps have reappeared at several public places in Chinnakanal panchayat, which claims to be a 100-percent waste-free local body.

The panchayat had carried out an intensive campaign that lasted several days to completely remove the garbage from the tourist spot, located near Munnar in Idukki district, along with the Haritha Karma Sena and various voluntary organisations.

However, waste started accumulating again within no time. Residents of the panchayat said that being a tourism destination, Chinnakanal receives a large number of visitors, including anti-social elements, who dump waste even in water sources. “Instead of depositing the waste in the bins installed by the panchayat, some visitors throw it carelessly in public areas,” said a resident.

The local people have also raised complaints against some homestays in the area for dumping waste on roadsides.

Meanwhile, environmental activists said that the methods adopted by the authorities to manage waste had defects. “Installing waste-bins all over the panchayat without implementing measures to process the waste at the source will be futile. Widespread public awareness programmes are also needed to tackle the menace of waste,” said an activist.

Residents have also demanded urgent measures to complete the work of the waste-treatment plant sanctioned for the panchayat, which could provide a permanent solution to the issue.