Yercaud’s Push for a Plastic‑Free Hospitality Scene

Salem District Collector K. Elambahavath stepped out of his office on a breezy October evening and told the gathered shopkeepers, hotel owners and resort managers that Yercaud’s charm was at risk if plastic kept choking its lanes.

He reminded everyone that the state’s ongoing “Pasumai Yercaud” initiative isn’t just a slogan – it’s a call to swap out those flimsy plastic bottles for sturdy glass or metal ones. “Let the traders’ associations take the lead and police themselves,” he said, his tone a mix of firmness and encouragement.

Earlier in the month, from 11 to 20 September, awareness drives flickered across 120 spots in the Yercaud panchayat union. Under the banner “Yercaud Nam Uyir Kadu” (Yercaud is our living heritage), volunteers handed out pamphlets, set up stalls and tried to convince locals that the very plastic they used daily was slowly chipping away at the hills they love.

Partnering with the Rotary Club of Salem City and the Yercaud Hotel Owners Association, the collector highlighted a few concrete steps: reusable cloth bags instead of single‑use plastic, glass water bottles on restaurant tables, and even a school‑based sapling programme. Kids now get seedlings to plant and tend, learning early that a greener Yercaud starts with a single sprout.

Yercaud, after all, is a magnet for tourists seeking cool breezes and mist‑clad hills. The collector warned that a reputation for clean, plastic‑free hospitality could be its biggest asset. “If we all act responsibly, the hill station will stay beautiful for generations,” he concluded.