Courtallam bathing curbs spark Tenkasi ‘bottle bath’ protest

Tenkasi: How do you protest a ban on bathing? How about with a bath?Traders and communist parties in Tenkasi on Wednesday staged a symbolic bath outside the collectorate – pouring water from bottles over themselves – to protest restrictions on night bathing at Old Courtallam Falls and the introduction of entry fees.Condemning what he called ‘commercialisation’ of the tourist spot, CPI(M) state executive member K G Baskaran said notifying the falls under a reserved forest zone and restricting access from 7am to 5 pm would affect the livelihood of local residents dependent on tourism.“Courtallam remains one of the few tourist destinations in south India where families can access waterfalls without trekking through forest terrain,” he said, adding that tourists visiting Courtallam could still find dormitories and rooms priced between Rs 500 and Rs 600 a night, unlike several hill stations such as Nilgiris and Kodaikanal where travel and accommodation costs were higher.During the June-Sept tourist season, visitors usually access the falls round the clock and food stalls operate through the night, including eateries serving midnight parottas. Trader A Manikandan said crowd movement was spread across the day and night earlier and restricting entry hours would now increase congestion during limited daytime hours. “Despite heavy tourist inflow, there have not been major stampede incidents or serious law and order issues except stray theft cases,” he said.Baskaran said the forest department had already taken over Chitraruvi Falls from the local body and recently assumed control of Old Courtallam Falls from Ayiraperi panchayat. “If this continues, other falls including Five Falls and Main Falls, where entry was free, may also come under similar control,” he said.Under the new system, the forest department collects Rs 20 per person for bathing access and another Rs 10 per head for transport from the entrance to the falls. Visitors parking vehicles at the entrance are charged separately, including Rs 75 for cars.“Only Rs 30 from the Rs 75 parking fee was retained by the department and the remaining amount was handed over to the panchayat,” said a senior forest department official, adding that the regulated transport system would prevent autorickshaw drivers from charging tourists up to Rs 250 for short-distance trips to the falls.He said the move followed directions of the Madras high court and aligned with the state’s eco-tourism policy aimed at reducing pollution, maintaining cleanliness and creating employment opportunities for local residents.