The scourge of littering and accumulation of garbage, combined with uncontrolled and lack of Responsible Tourism has been covered by CLN many times in the recent past. This could very well result in the decimation of Kodagu’s landscape and resources. We were delighted to learn from The President of COHERA Dinesh Cariappa about this initiative of cleaning Kodagu as a People’s Movement on Wednesday, 15th October. The exciting prospect of all stakeholders from all Government Bodies, Community and Trade Organizations, Hotels and Homestays, all Community Sanghas, Educational Institutions taking part is making this a true Peoples Movement.
CLN has highlighted this serious issue plaguing Coorg through multiple posts in the past.
https://clnews.in/2024/05/08/coorg-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-and-eyesore-too/
https://clnews.in/2025/06/17/alarming-plastic-pollution-at-irupu-falls-urgent-call-for-action/
https://clnews.in/2024/06/26/the-unending-saga-of-garbage-collection-at-keere-pole-barrier/
The District Administrations total commitment under the leadership of the dynamic Mr Venkat Raja, the District Commissioner endorsement and participation gives this movement a great boost. We are of the firm belief that Public Private Partnerships are always the best methodology to ensure the success in an enduring and sustainable manner.
Campaigns like this should become a regular feature in Kodagu, uniting citizens, institutions, and organizations in a collective effort to keep the district clean and green. The initiative aims not only to remove waste but also to inspire a long-term sense of environmental responsibility among residents and visitors alike. As they say, Prevention is better than Cure!
Last, but not the least, there are Government reports acknowledging the pre-merger Coorg State’s squeaky clean image of zero corruption, virtually no crimes and financial prudence combined with integrity of the administration. Along with getting rid of Garbage, a group of concerned Kodavas chimed – can we get rid of corruption – to start with petty corruption and crime? After all – Cleanliness is next to Godliness. – CLN Newsdesk
COHERA has announced a major cleanliness campaign titled “Swacha Kodagu – Sundara Kodagu” will be launched across Kodagu district on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, with the aim of fostering environmental responsibility and preserving the district’s natural beauty through collective community action.
The district-wide clean-up drive will commence at 8:00 AM simultaneously at various key locations across Kodagu.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Coorg Hotels and Resorts Association(COHERA), invites participation from local organizations, associations, NGOs, educational institutions, clubs, community bodies, residents, and volunteer groups. Interested participants have been requested to submit the name of their organization and their chosen clean-up route (From–To) to the organizing committee by October 13, 2025.
To ensure smooth coordination, protective hand gloves and garbage bags will be provided to all participants, while waste collection and responsible disposal will be managed by the respective Panchayats. Participants have also been urged to follow all safety protocols during the activity.
Speaking about the initiative, Dinesh Cariappa, President of the COHERA, emphasized that the drive provides an opportunity for citizens to come together for a cleaner and greener Kodagu. “Our collective effort will ensure that Kodagu remains clean, green, and beautiful for generations to come,” he stated, encouraging widespread participation.
The organizers have called upon the people of Kodagu to join hands in this community-driven mission and contribute to maintaining the district’s pristine charm.
The support from all quarters of every community has been overwhelming. Every road has been “adopted” in the Route Map, with contact numbers for volunteers and well-wishers.
Way to go guys – it’s heart wrenching to see such involvement 👏👏
Very good initiative deserving full support from all.
Can the Government and COHERA put up STERN sign boards with HIGH PENALTIES for littering at critical Tourist spots? Enforcement is critical too.
What a fantastic thought process. All power to this group – May the Force be with you!
Involve the youngsters and showcase their participation – just like the Bael Pani events. Unless the youth are involved in a continuous basis, it will pass as yet another event. It has to be sustained.
Jabhoomi announced the next Yuva Mela to take place early next year. This could be part of the agenda.
Good luck to the initiative.
It is only when the community is motivated that they collectively make things happen. That the District Administration is wholeheartedly participating is a huge plus point to make this an enduring initiative.
Very good move by COHERA. All I can say is that this is a much needed programme that should have everyone’s support.
Basic values of respect, honesty, cleanliness, work ethic and so on are absorbed in one’s childhood – that’s why strong upbringing is so important. Go to Thailand and Sri Lanka – the classroom curriculum is integrated with CLEANLINESS. As a result, I heir environment and surroundings are very clean.
Look at the Armed Forces – cleanliness and secularism is a way of life. Their campuses are so clean. IT IS POSSIBLE TO KEEP KODAGU CLEAN – all we need is the right attitude and commitment. Reckless Tourism is a serious problem and needs to be contained.
Much needed initiative and the approach is a good one. The visible participation by rank and file is important – well done COHERA!
Just for a moment, let us imagine what it might take for Kodagu to qualify to be amongst the Top 10 Cleanest Cities/ areas in the country. Here is a simple analysis of what it takes to get there:
– Indore the #1 city stands out for its efficient waste segregation, innovative recycling strategy and awareness amongst the people.
– in the case of Surat #2, taking a holistic approach towards sanitation and public health care. Relentlessly worked towards providing modern solid waste management facilities and waste segregation at source.
– In Navi Mumbai Cleanliness laws are strictly enforced.
– Interestingly Mysuru features high on the list with focus ion waste segregation at source and the effective waste disposal mechanism.
– Gangtok and Shillong which feature as #7 and 10 are relevant comparisons for Coorg. Some highlights:
Active public involvement and also practising eco tourism.Banning of Plastic, Eco-Friendly Waste Management Practices and Biodiversity promotion. Adoption of sustainable tourism practices, and community-driven cleanliness efforts.
None of the above is rocket science. Simple, determined, milestone driven prioritisation is what it takes. Replace mindless non-value added spending on festivals and focus on AWARENESS, PREVENTION, EDUCATION, ACCOUNTABILITY – WITH GRADUAL IF NOT TOTAL ELIMINATION OF PETTY CORRUPTION.
A Brilliant initiative indeed! Cleanliness drives like Swacha Barath, Sundara Kodagu inspires collective action, yet their true purpose is fulfilled only when Cleanliness becomes a way of life.
How long can we keep Kodagu clean through these drives? This can be achieved when both local residents and tourists cultivate civic sense and respect the sanctity of this sacred land – the very birth place of Goddess Cauvery. Keeping Kodagu clean is not just our duty, it is an offering of gratitude to the divine river that blesses all of us.
This is a very thoughtful and relevant move from COHERA – after all Hotels and Homestays are the primary beneficiaries of the tourist footfalls. The fact that the District Administration is fully involved bodes well for the recognition of common priorities for execution.
CLN should get credit for relentlessly writing about Uncontrolled Tourism, Garbage Menace, Pot-hole riddled roads and urging everyone to recognise this single largest challenge that the District has to overcome.
Hopefully this will lead to clearer, sustainable guidelines to pursue more ambitious goals.
While the upcoming clean-up drive is an excellent step, I hope it marks the beginning of a long-term movement rather than a one-off campaign.
Regular involvement from local institutions, educational bodies, and especially tourists is crucial for maintaining the cleanliness and charm of Kodagu. Follow-up initiatives and awareness programs will be essential to keep this momentum alive.
Any amount of cleaning will not stop the irresponsible tourists from littering and creating chaos amongst the poor animals; the humans seem to be used to it (Animals keep their forests clean).
The solution is fine them heavily. Yes, let the cops take or do whatever is necessary, but let us get the menace stopped.
The Health Officer in Nilgiris is just fed up with the continuous dumping of garbage by the tourists! His staff just cannot cope with the menace.
A very good initiative to begin with – everyone should support this community effort and make it a sustainable and enduring feature in Kodagu’s calendar. Far more productive engaging in these meaningful endeavors instead of the countless mind-numbing Nammes.
The CLEAN COORG CAMPAIGN called SWACCHA KODAGU, SUNDARA KODAGU is a very well timed initiative. This coincides just TWO days before our famous TULA SHANKRAMANA and the Annual Theertodbhava of our godess cauveriamme. Cauveriamme is the lifeline of Kodagu and many parts of south India. What better time to keep kodagu clean where our pristine Cauveriamme flows.
Now the question is how long can we keep kodagu clean by undertaking such drives??? Can we keep doing such cleanup drives periodically or should we put some system in place where cleanliness becomes a way of life. Plastic has been a curse on planet earth and it’s upto Homo Sapiens, who invented plastic, to also find judicious ways of using it, rather than overusing and misusing plastic.
A few decades back kodagu was very famous for cleanliness and beauty, but sadly the huge influx of tourists beyond the carrying capacity of the district has put tremendous pressure on the entire District so much so that Garbage dumped by tourists has become a huge unmanageable issue for the district administration. Garbage collection, recycling and management is best handled at village level and every village in kodagu should proactively involve to ensure that Garbage isn’t thrown or dumped at will all over by tourists. If volunteers in all village stop tourists from dumping Garbage and shame those tourists who throw waste and Garbage at will, it’s only a matter of time that awareness is created among visiting tourists and there is a fear conscious induced in tourists of being shamed in KODAGU THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY COMPLY WITH LOCAL ZERO WASTE GUIDELINES of KODAGU.
Waste Management Slogan in Kodagu should read,
YOUR WASTE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOU CANNOT LEAVE YOUR WASTE IN KODAGU. PLEASE CARRY BACK YOUR WASTE TO YOUR HOME.
Roadside banners educating tourists to Carry back their waste should be put up at short distances to drive home the point.
Yes as the editorial rightly said PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. After the 15th October cleanup initiative let’s START REDUCING WASTE. LETS REFUSE PLASTIC BAGS & BOTTLES. Lets carry our own Cloth Bags while shopping. Finally it’s upto us LOCALS to KEEP KODAGU CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. Charity should begin at home so let’s start setting examples of reducing waste.