Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated the 122nd flower show at the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam on Friday.
Also present at the inauguration ceremony were State Agriculture Minister R. Duraikannu; Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani; State Co-operation Minister Sellur Raju; and Nilgiris District Collector Innocent Divya. With over 1 lakh flowers being used for the show, the main attraction at the event was a replica of the Mettur dam made of more than 90,000 carnation flowers.
As part of the flower show, around 1,500 flower pots of Inca Marigolds, French Marigolds, Petunias, Salvias, Begonias, Asters, Balsams, Oriental Lilies, Chrysanthemums, Gladiolus and Gloxinias, among others, were arranged on the garden’s lawns. Officials added that over 25,000 flowering plants would be on display during the show.
The Glass House, which was undergoing restoration, was also opened to the public. Speaking at the event, Mr. Palaniswami announced infrastructure projects and welfare schemes amounting to ₹1,879.59 crore, including the Kundah Ultimate Stage Hydro Electric Project.
Mr. Palaniswami said that the efforts of the State government and the district administration had made the Nilgiris a plastic-free district.
Mr. Palaniswamy also used the occasion to take a dig at T.T.V. Dhinakaran. In an obvious reference to the AMMK leader, narrated a story about a quarry worker and his quest for power through arrogance and deceit, which ultimately resulted in him returning to his former station. “People who were sidelined by late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa are now claiming that they are all-powerful; but they will eventually be brought back down to earth,” said Mr. Palaniswami.
Protests mar show
The inauguration function was marred by protests as some horticulture department workers staged a demonstration outside the office of the Deputy Director of Horticulture demanding regularisation of their services.
