Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Accord priority to beautification of Ooty, officials told

Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

eyesore: A hoarding, which poses a threat to motorists, on Spencer’s Road in Udhagamandalam. —

Udhagamandalam: With concern growing over this hill station continuing to wear a shabby look notwithstanding numerous representations and assurances over the last few years, a suggestion made by many here is that its beautification should be high on the list of New Year resolutions of the authorities, including officials and representatives of the people.

Lamenting that this popular holiday destination had never been as run down as it was now, they said that the deplorable amenities like roads, sidewalks, stormwater drains and sewerage lines constitute a sad commentary on the civic administration.

Promises made periodically remain unfulfilled. While on the one hand the years of neglect have done almost irreparable damage in some parts of the town, on the other political one-upmanship has turned many parts into eyesores. Owing to many of the political parties fuelling the culture of erecting hoardings to score a point over their rivals, the town is dotted with boards of varying sizes containing pictures of leaders at various levels. Since hoardings put up in connection with events organised here or elsewhere are not removed even many days after the events are over, they turn into eyesores in course of time.

While some prevent public utilities like fountains from serving their purpose, some of them even pose a threat to motorists.

Even the beauty of places like Coonoor has been marred by such hoardings. The contention of the people was that efforts to provide a facelift to the town will succeed only if the political parties extend a helping hand.

Recalling that about five or six years ago rules relating to pasting of posters, erecting hoardings etc laid down by the district administration were strictly adhered to by various political parties, they wondered why they were being flouted now. They opined that in the absence of self-discipline, the administration should enforce discipline. A tourist from Chennai told The Hindu here on Friday that the amenities, especially the roads, were as bad as they were during December 2006 when he and his friends were subjected to considerable inconvenience.

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