The Hindu : It's a riot of colours in Ooty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

It's a riot of colours in Ooty

By D. Radhakrishnan

UDHAGAMANDALAM APRIL 27. The Government Botanical Gardens here, venue of the May 18-19 annual floral carnival, is now a riot of colours with flowers nearing full bloom. Already varieties such as petunias are presenting a breathtaking sight. The Nilgiris Flower and Fruit Show Committee is preparing for the event.

While the flowers grown include the long-duration and perennial salvia, delphinium and begonia and others from imported seeds such as ageratum, French marigold, African marigold, aster, phlox, zinnia, candytuft, calendula, balsam, calceolaria and pansy, more than 10,000 pots with attractive flowers are getting ready for display.

Among the varieties introduced this year are ultra mix, eagle mix and carnival mix in nemesia and the finest mix in primula.

Meanwhile, there was a marginal increase in the inflow of tourists with a good number of ``weekenders'' flocking to the place.

While acknowledging the efforts being made by the district administration to spruce up the hill station, some tourists interviewed at scenic spots in and around Udhagamandalam yesterday wanted steps taken before it was too late not only to preserve the beauty of the hill station but also restore it to its former glory.

Cautioning that locals and authorities, particularly those in charge of civic administration of the hill station could no longer afford to be complacent, resting on its laurels, the visitors said if only an alternative was available to tourists, they would gladly change their travel plans.

Still, they pointed out, Udhagamandalam managed to retain the "Queen of hill stations" image, despite the largescale environmental degradation and haphazard development witnessed over the years. In many ways no other hill station could compare with it, they felt.

A senior bureaucrat, who had a stint here a few years ago, said ``there are very few places or possibly no place in India which offers the kind of variety the Nilgiris presents''.

Listing some of the scenic spots, he, however, said unless places on the outskirts were developed, Udhagamandalam town would continue to suffer for want of adequate drinking water, roads and sewage disposal facilities.

Ghat road, one-way from May1

The authorities have decided to regulate traffic on the Udhagamandalam-Mettupalayam highway. According to the Collector, Supriya Sahu, during May 1-31 all vehicles proceeding towards Mettupalayam from Udhagamandalam would be diverted via Kattabettu, Kotagiri and Kunjapanai. Between Coonoor and Mettupalayam also, the vehicles would have to go via Kattabettu and Kotagiri. However all vehicles coming from Mettupalayam towards Coonoor and Udhagamandalam would be allowed via Burliar as usual.

These measures would help to ease congestion and prevent accidents on the busy ghat road, apart from facilitating a peaceful journey for the tourists, Ms. Sahu said. Arrangements were made by regional transport authorities, in association with the police and pollution control board, to carry out vehicle emission tests at Kallar above Mettupalayam. Vehicles which did not conform to smoke emission norms would not be allowed to proceed towards the Nilgiris.

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