Waterfall Viewing Ban Dampens Tourism, Locals Seek Urgent Review

KARWAR

Tourism in Uttara Kannada district has taken a major hit this monsoon season following the district administration’s restrictions on visiting waterfalls due to safety concerns. While the region’s lush Western Ghats and monsoon-fed waterfalls have long been a major draw for visitors, fears of landslides—especially after the recent Shirur incident—have led authorities to clamp down on access.

This year, frequent minor landslides have heightened fears, prompting the administration to install banners warning tourists and deploy personnel from the police, forest, and revenue departments to monitor key areas. Despite these efforts, some tourists are reportedly sneaking into restricted zones, said Deputy Commissioner K Lakshmi Priya, who emphasized that public safety is the top priority.

However, the move has triggered widespread disappointment among visitors and local tourism stakeholders, who depend on seasonal tourism for their livelihood.

Local resident Deepak Shenoy urged the administration to reconsider the blanket restrictions, stating that many families in the region rely heavily on tourist inflow during the monsoon months. He suggested that the district could instead focus on safety measures, awareness campaigns, and increased deployment of staff to manage tourist movements more effectively.

There is now a strong local demand for the administration to strike a balance between safety and livelihood, by regulating rather than restricting access to waterfalls.

BOX

“Instead of shutting access to waterfalls completely, the administration should focus on preventing disasters through awareness and strategic monitoring,” say locals, demanding a policy shift in favour of community livelihood.