Authorities enforce cap on visitors to Perumalmudi, Melmudi in Coimbatore

Hundreds of people who came to Perumalmudi and Melmudi for trekking on the third Saturday of Purattasi month (October 3) were sent back after authorities began enforcing the cap fixed on the number of visitors to the two peaks located in reserve forest areas.

Officials and staff from the Forest Department, Coimbatore District Police, Revenue Department and Health Department regulated the crowd as early as 4 a.m.

As per the decision taken at a meeting chaired by District Collector on September 30, a maximum of 1,000 visitors will be permitted to Perumalmudi and 500 to Melmudi on Purattasi Saturdays. The combined number of two-wheelers and four-wheelers permitted to the base of the two peaks are 250 and 150 respectively.

The authorities permitted 1,000 persons to Permalmudi and 500 to Melmudi, after screening by the Health, Forest and Revenue departments. The police regulated the crowd and sent back those who arrived after the permitted number of people were allowed to climb the peaks.

District Forest Officer N. Vengatesh Prabhu said the authorities are planning to introduce an online reservation system before the beginning of the Purattasi month next year. In the ongoing Purattasi month, visitors will be allowed to the two peaks, as per regulations, for the remaining two more Saturdays.

Around 10,000 people trekked Perumalmudi and 3,000 people scaled Melmudi on September 26, the second Purattasi Saturday.