Conservationists oppose plans to develop HPF factory in Ooty into IT Park

Forest Minister K. Ramachandran had recently said the disused factory premises may be used to set up IT parks; conservationists say this will ruin the habitat for leopards, sloth bears, deer and other animals that are now at home there

A proposal to convert the defunct Hindustan Photo Films (HPF) factory in Udhagamandalam -- home to a multitude of wildlife since its closure a few years ago -- into an IT Park, is causing concern among local residents and conservationists. They are worried that one of the last remaining green spaces within Udhagamandalam town could be lost once again to development policies.

Recently, Forest Minister, K. Ramachandran, pointed out that the HPF premises encompasses around 300 acres of land in three blocks. He said the government was looking towards creating jobs for unemployed youth and was trying to identify land where IT parks can be set up. Mr. Ramachandran said that the HPF factory premises are one such possible location for development.