Tourism waste management crisis at Edakkal Caves

The area around Edakkal Caves, one of Wayanad's most popular tourist spots, is facing a severe waste management crisis. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other waste litter the trekking path and surrounding forest areas. The local panchayat lacks the resources to manage the volume of tourist waste. Biodegradable waste is attracting stray animals. An urgent need for waste bins, regular cleaning drives, and strict enforcement of no-plastic zones.