Gadag: Visitors to the Kappatagudda hills can now take a technology-enabled pledge to keep the eco-sensitive region free from plastic. The forest department has installed a pledge wall where visitors can register their commitment with a handprint before scanning a QR code. After entering their details and uploading a selfie or photograph from their gallery, they receive a personalised digital certificate that can be shared on social media.Deputy conservator of forests Santosh Kumar Kenchappanavar said the initiative aims to create awareness about reducing plastic use not only during visits to Kappatagudda but also in everyday life. “When visitors share the certificate on social media, the message reaches a larger audience,” he said.Kappatagudda range forest officer Manjunath Megalamani said visitors can leave coloured handprints on the pledge wall as a symbol of their commitment to keeping the hills clean and plastic-free. They can then scan the QR code to instantly receive a personalised Green Pledge Certificate. The initiative is aimed particularly at involving children and students in the conservation of the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary. Currently, one certificate can be generated per mobile number.Megalamani said the initiative was introduced on a pilot basis last year but was suspended due to technical issues. It was relaunched last Sunday with several upgrades, including the option to add photographs and receive certificates in JPG format instead of PDF. Users can directly share the certificate on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.Around 50 visitors have downloaded the certificate in the last five days, he said. The QR code is hosted on Kappataguddaonline.com on a trial basis. The system also helps track the origins of visitors. Megalamani said the initiative was implemented at minimal cost, with software developed free of charge by techie Sachin Balashetti. The department is also planning to introduce online ticketing soon.Santosh Haveri, a railway employee who recently visited Kappatagudda, welcomed the initiative. “The hill is like heaven, and conserving it is everyone’s responsibility. The digital certificate encourages people to think about conservation and environmental protection. I shared it with my contacts and on social media and felt happy,” he said.
