Conservationists urge government to halt development of eco-park at Ooty Race Course

Conservationists urge the government to halt eco-park development at Ooty Race Course to protect the wetland ecosystem.

Conservationists including the Confederation of Environment Associations of Nilgiris (CEAN) have written to the government calling for the Ooty Race Course to be protected, and for any planned constructions to be stopped immediately.

In their petition to the government, Surjit K. Chaudhary, a retired IAS officer and Chairperson of CEAN, said that a forum of citizens who came together for the protection of the wetland in Udhagamandalam did a recce of the entire wetland from Stone House to Kandhal. They said that while they were appreciative of the government in taking over the Race Course, that the same Government Order that outlined its takeover has mentioned that it had been handed over to the State Horticulture Department for the setting up of an eco-park.

“Major damage has already been caused (to the wetland) due to development activities by the administration,” said CEAN in a press release, calling on the government to immediately stop all development activities.

CEAN also called for all structures blocking the flow of water into the Race Course by the local body, Government of India and private entities to be removed, including a theme park near the Ooty bus stand, whose lease is to end shortly.

CEAN also called for steps to be taken to stop the flow of raw sewage into the wetland, while also urging the Tourism Department to “decelerate” tourism activities.

“Tourism promotion programmes and development activities are playing havoc with hill ecology. It is causing huge problems in the form of garbage generation, pollution and other consequences,” CEAN added.