Vattavada panchayat in Munnar imposes entry fee for tourist vehicles
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The Vattavada grama panchayat near the Munnar hill station in Idukki has introduced an entry fee for tourist vehicles, effective October 31. According to officials, a green checkpost has been set up at Oorkkad near Vattavada to collect the fee. The rates are fixed at ₹100 for tourist buses, ₹50 for cars, and ₹30 for two-wheelers. Vattavada panchayat assistant secretary Pratheesh Raj P.J. said the fee was introduced to ensure proper waste management in the emerging destination.
“The entry fee does not apply to local residents or those operating businesses in the Vattavada area,” the official said. “When vehicles enter, staff stationed at the checkpost will provide a bag to deposit waste, which visitors can hand over upon their return. Plastic waste will also be collected at entry. Under current guidelines, the panchayat cannot utilise plan funds for waste treatment activities, and due to this funding shortfall, sanitation workers have gone unpaid for the past three months. The entry fee will be utilised entirely for waste management and local tourism development,” said the official.
Officials noted that Vattavada is an increasingly popular getaway near Munnar, which attracts large crowds, thanks to its cool-season vegetable and fruit farming. However, the influx has led to widespread dumping of food and plastic waste along roadsides, which the panchayat cannot manage without dedicated revenue. “The panchayat spent an average of ₹45 lakh on waste treatment works over the past year, and due to the fund crisis, we cannot sustain these operations without alternative revenue. The entry fee has been introduced specifically for this purpose,” an official stated.
Mr. Pratheesh Raj further highlighted the role of the Chakliya community in local sanitation efforts. “Out of 42 sanitation and Haritha Karma Sena workers, 38 belong to the Chakliya community. Ensuring job and wage security for them is vital for the panchayat,” he said. Officials added that the local body also plans to channel revenue into infrastructure upgrades to further support sustainable tourism in Vattavada.
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