Ooty|Coonoor Projects & Developments (Nilgiris)

[bonoslack7]

Hi friends,

Since the Nilgiris have been one of the major tourist draws and because of its reputation as being one of the best education hubs in India, I am starting a separate thread for detailing projects/events undertaken in the Nilgiris district. Please add more info.

Thanks.

[bonoslack7]

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shachis...n/photostream/

[bonoslack7]

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaybigf...n/photostream/

[bonoslack7]

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shachis...n/photostream/

[bonoslack7]

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/20/stor...2052630500.htm

The potential for promoting tourism in this hill station is enormous, said the Consul-General, Royal Thai Consulate, Chennai, Chanchai Charanvatnakit here on Saturday.

In a chat with The Hindu, he said that he was immensely impressed with the place and added that in many ways it qualified to be compared with Switzerland.

Expressing hope that the authorities concerned would identify its strong points and exploit them to attract more visitors, especially foreigners, he said that necessary infrastructure should be created.

Quicker ways of reaching the place should be evolved. Smooth flow of traffic should be ensured on the roads leading to Ooty.

He regretted that tourists from abroad who visit Agra or Jaipur were not aware of this holiday destination. The natural beauty and scenery of the place should be exposed to the world and adventure tourism encouraged.

To a query, Mr. Charanvatnakit said that the purpose of his maiden visit to the Nilgiris along with the Deputy Consul General Tajtai Tmangraksat was to gain first hand knowledge of the progress being made by the students from Thailand who are studying at the Monarch

International College of Hotel Management, the Good Shepherd International School, the Saint Jude's Public School, the JSS Public School and the Hebron School. Pointing out that the total number of students studying here was about 130, he said that it was significant.

Stating, “Ooty is the best place to study”, he said that the Thai students are being looked after well and they are registering good progress.

[bonoslack7]

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/19/stor...1952630500.htm

The Nilgiris police outpost, which was wound up because of various reasons, including shortage of staff, is all set for a revival.

It was a familiar feature of Lovedale, a suburban part of Ooty, for long. It was remaining in disuse for the last several years.

Housed in a quaint old building atop a small hill, near the Lovedale railway bridge, the outpost attached to the Ooty Town Police Station had for several decades played a key role in making the residents of Lovedale and its surrounding areas such as Gandhi Nagar, Valley View, Meenkara Thotam, Grant Duff road, Lawrence School, Chappers Lane, and Richings Road feel secure.

Consequently, the building housing the outpost, and the nearby staff quarters, have gone to seed.

They have also been targeted by vandals.

The Superintendent of Police, S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, told The Hindu that the outpost was being spruced up as part of a development plan.

Welcoming the move of the police, many residents of Lovedale said that they had witnessed its closure with a heavy heart.

“We are eagerly looking forward to the re-opening of the outpost,” said a former headmaster of Lawrence Primary School K.B. Nanjan.

Police officer V. Mathappan, who has been entrusted with the task of improving its ambience, said that the outpost stood on 75 cents of land.

[bonoslack7]

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/18/stor...1852080500.htm

A multi-purpose ‘Culture Centre' will come up in Ooty.

The Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Surjit K. Chowdhary, told presspersons here on Thursday, that it would be established under the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) at a cost of Rs. 5.5 crore on 1.65 acres of land.

Rules

Pointing out that a plan submitted earlier had not adhered to the Hill Area Building Rules, he said that a revised plan was now under consideration.

The proposed centre would come up on the Government Botanical Garden Road.

The possibility of supporting efforts to preserve heritage architecture and promoting heritage tourism in the hill station would be explored and the sector's potential would be tapped.

To a question, he said that the funds of the Centrally-sponsored HADP could be used only for creating infrastructure or making infrastructural changes.

They could not be given for maintaining projects.

Prior to clearing proposals, their compatibility to environmental norms should be verified.

However, some other agency should ensure that they were implemented as per norms, he said.

He added that the contribution of HADP to the overall development of the district was significant.

The amount sanctioned under the HADP by the Planning Commission for 2010-11 was Rs. 42.93 crore. For 2011-12, the proposal was yet to be submitted, he added.

The programme should be used to raise the health, education, and economic standards in tribal areas, he said.

Performance

Mr. Chowdhary said that the government had put in place a system of grading the performance of Collectors and other officials.

Earlier, he presided over a meeting of government officials to review the performance of various departments which benefited from HADP funds.

Among those present were the Nilgiris Collector, Archana Patnaik, and the Project Director, HADP, Deepak Srivatsava.

Mr. Chowdhary also inspected some of the HADP-sponsored schemes in Coonoor, Achanakkal, and Ooty.

[senthilnatha]

[mr_madras]

nice to see this thread and started remembering the old days of travelling MTP to Ooty/Kothagiri

[bonoslack7]

Concrete structures to be discouraged in the hill town

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/22/stor...2251550500.htm

Having been introduced in the Nilgiris district as part of the 5th Five Year Plan with the objective of eco restoration, eco development, eco preservation, socio-economic and infrastructure development, the centrally sponsored Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) has come a long way over the past 36 years and is now set to play a bigger role in reaching out to the people in the far flung areas and implementing conservation oriented development schemes.

The services of ex-servicemen and watershed development teams would be utilised. Concrete structures would be discouraged and activities like cultivation of orchids and balsams encouraged. Heritage tourism will receive a boost. Support will be extended to educational institutions for growing trees belonging to the shola species.

In a chat with The Hindu here on Monday, Deepak Srivatsava, who recently took charge as the Project Director of HADP, said that henceforth the bottom-up approach will be visible in all the sectors and people's participation will be more pronounced.

Stating that the district administration and the HADP will function as a team, he said that high priority would be accorded to area specific schemes. Through a convergent approach, problems relating to duplication of schemes by various implementing agencies would be tackled.

Pointing out that treatment of areas affected by landslides, identification of areas vulnerable to landslips and steps to prevent such natural calamities would be given the importance they deserve, Mr. Srivatsava said that the focus would be more on vegetative cover and gabion structures.

Some areas in Jagathala and Adhigaratty have already been identified for such preventive measures.

The economic, social and educational development of disadvantaged sections of the society will be addressed.

Income generation schemes will be given importance.

Stating that a plan of action is expected to be in place by April, he said that proposals for the next fiscal are in the process of being prepared. A sum ranging between Rs. 42 - 45 crore would be sought from the Union Planning Commission for implementing schemes under the HADP during 2011-2012.

[ChicagoThalapathi]

Originally Posted by senthilnatha

Nilgiri Mountain Railway....

http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/NMR_RAILWAY.htm

[ChicagoThalapathi]

Coonoor Bus Stand was constructed during 1960

Images...

http://municipality.tn.gov.in/coonoor/ph_busstand.htm

[bonoslack7]

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/24/stor...2451140500.htm

The role of the people in keeping the towns and villages of this holiday destination clean was stressed by the Nilgiris Collector Archana Patnaik at Aruvankadu near here on Tuesday.

Participating in the 31st Annual Day celebrations of the Rural Development Organisation (RDO), a non-governmental organization, she said that all should join hands to make the Nilgiris litter-free and plastics- free.

Projects

The Consul-General of Japan Tomonori Minowa said that help will be extended to about 6,000 people to take up livelihood projects.

He pointed out that the Embassy of Japan had assisted the RDO to the tune of Rs. 97,000 US dollars to put up a training centre.

The Chief Conservator of Forests Rajiv K. Srivastava said that dependence on the people, particularly in the rural areas, to protect forests and wild animals was on the rise.

Farmers

The Project Director, Hill Area Development Programme (HADP), Deepak Srivatsava, said that in the implementation of various schemes, the active involvement of farmers and women would be ensured.

The Chief Regional Manager, United India Insurance, K.P.Lakshmanan, said that with the help of the development organisation, as many as 20,000 Below the Poverty Line families in the Nilgiris district would be brought under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme.

The Founder-Director RDO N.K.Perumal welcomed the gathering.

[NARASIMHAN.ML]

[NARASIMHAN.ML]

[jayaveera]

Udhagamandalam: Officials of the Forest Department, green activists, hoteliers and a few concerned citizens of this hill station joined hands on Saturday night to observe Earth Hour.

While the initiative was taken by the Nilgiris chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature, the venue was the Holiday Inn Gem Park Hotel which had bagged the national energy conservation award for the hospitality sector last year.

With all the lights being switched off between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. and candles being lit to decorate the place and facilitate movement of people, participants took stock of the situation on the local, national and global levels.

Addressing the gathering, District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris North, S.Ramasubramaniam said that in many ways conservation was being given importance in the Nilgiris.

Owing to its significance it had been declared a biosphere reserve. WWF Coordinator N.Mohanraj said that since the Earth Hour concept came into being in Sydney in 2007 it had gained a great deal of support world wide.

Earth Hour 2010 turned out to be the biggest with 128 countries joining the display of climate action.

The aim this year was to initiate responsible actions and sustained commitments for a greener tomorrow. The logo of Earth Hour, which was 60, had evolved to 60+.

Secretary of Nilgiris Hotels and Restaurants Association N.Chandrashekar said that efforts would be made to enhance awareness about conservation among the members of the association.

Thane-based eco campaigner Vaibhav Prasad Desai urged people to ponder over the joy derived from nature and added that all should support the conservation efforts.

Suresh Nair, Chief Engineer, Holiday Inn, said that observing Earth Hour had become a monthly affair for the management of the hotel. The guests also take part with enthusiasm.

T.Vasu of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association and Ramesh Khemchand of the Rotary Club of Ootacamund also spoke.

Sourced from The Hindu

[Gansan]

I will be visiting Ooty with my wife and son (11 yo) from Mysore during the last week of May. We will arrive by mid-week and depart for Chennai by the week-end. I am interested in decent and economical, not luxurious, accommodation. Can anyone give me some pointers please?

[TShyam]

The Madras High Court on Thursday said the Tamil Nadu government is fully empowered to notify the ‘Elephant Corridor' in The Nilgiris district as a management strategy.

The government is also authorised by the Centre's ‘Project Elephant' since there was no impediment in the Wildlife Protection Act to declaring the corridor by the State government.

In its common order on petitions, a Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and D. Hariparanthaman said the State government's action to identify the corridor could not be found fault with since it had only acted towards implementing its obligations under Article 51-A (g) of the Constitution, which said it was the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including wildlife.

In its public interest litigation petition, ‘In Defence of Environment and Animals,' represented by its managing trustee, Elephant G. Rajendran, sought a direction to the authorities to keep the corridor without any encroachment and any other disturbance for the free movement of elephants and other animals.

The legality or otherwise of the Tamil Nadu government's decision to identify and notify the ‘Elephant Corridor' and its consequential actions were questioned by various parties.

The contention of petitioners challenging the G.O. dated August 31, 2010 included that the constitution of an expert committee, whose report led to the issue of the impugned G.O., was in violation of law, the corridor as identified by the committee was erroneous and the G.O. violated the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act.

Writing the order for the Bench, Mr. Justice Elipe Dharma Rao said while hearing the PIL the High Court had thought it fit and proper to frame a body of experts to go into the matter.

The committee's formation was not interfered with by the Supreme Court in the proceedings initiated by some of the petitioners. Further no motive could be imparted to the panel. Hence, the petitioners' arguments could not be appreciated. The Bench said the greatest threat being faced by many species was the widespread destruction of habitat and hunting. By protecting the habitat, entire communities of animals could be protected together. The G.O. had been issued after a detailed study of the committee's report and considering the objections. On a complete analysis of the entire material and upon hearing the parties, the Bench said it was unable to find any illegality or irregularity in the State Government's action in notifying the corridor.

The Bench directed the resort owners and other private land owners to vacate and hand over vacant possession of land falling within the notified corridor to the Collector within three months.

In the meanwhile, it permitted the Tamil Nadu Government to go on with the project implementation. As regards forest dwellers, the State government should strictly adhere to the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.

In case any forest dweller was evicted, he should be provided an alternative and suitable accommodation. Forest dwellers who were denied alternative accommodation should be provided compensation.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/...cle1609603.ece

[TShyam]

A tea garden near Coonoor. (file photo)

A volume of 13.60 lakh kg will be offered for Sale No: 14 of the auctions of Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) to be conducted on tomorrow and Friday, reveals an analysis of the listing by brokers.

This is the highest volume so far in 2011 except Sale No: 2 held on January 13 when 14.22 lakh kg was offered. It is as much as 1.53 lakh kg more than last week's offer and 49,000 kg less more the offer this time last year.

Of the 13.60 lakh kg on offer, 9.50 lakh kg belongs to the leaf grades and 4.10 lakh kg belongs to the dust grades. As much as 12.80 lakh kg belongs to CTC variety and only 0.80 lakh kg, orthodox variety. The proportion of orthodox teas continues to be low in both the leaf and dust grades. In the leaf counter, only 0.41 lakh kg belongs to orthodox while 9.09 lakh kg, CTC. Among the dusts, only 0.39 lakh kg belongs to orthodox while 3.71 lakh kg, CTC.

In the 13.60 lakh kg, fresh tea accounts for 11.69 lakh kg and 1.91 lakh kg comprises teas remaining unsold in previous auctions. Accumulation of unsold teas is causing concern to producers – last week, as much as 46 per cent remained unsold despite shedding Rs 3 a kg. Quality teas, however, fetch good bids.

This week, Vigneshwar speciality teas continued to top CTC market. “Our Pekoe Dust topped at Rs 165 a kg. Our Red Dust and Super Fine Dust fetched the next high prices in dust market. In all, our 11 grades got Rs 118 and more,” Vigneshwar Managing Partner, Mr Ramesh Bhojarajan, told Business Line.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle1605655.ece

[TShyam]

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Activists in the Nilgiris have welcomed Thursday's Madras High Court ruling in a case related to protection of elephant corridors in the region. The "landmark judgment" will help to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the district, they said.

Concerned by constructions in the elephant corridor in the Sigur plateau of the Nilgiris hills, the Court had asked the Electricity Board in November 2009 to disconnect power supply to all illegal commercial buildings. Resort owners went in appeal and claimed before the court that the corridor was flawed. However, the court felt there was 'voluminous material on record' to indicate that resort owners had indulged in destruction of nature and obstructed passage of wildlife. On Thursday, the HC ordered resort owners and others to vacate the land in three months.

"The verdict has taken into consideration the genuine needs and rights of the locals and the tribals along with the needs of the elephants and the protection of the eco system," S.Jayachandran, secretary, Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association told TOI. A.C.Soundarajan, a wildlife activist, said the judgment, if implemented accordingly, could drastically reduce man-animal conflict in the region.

Until recently, there was not much human interference in the area under the proposed elephant corridor. Parts of area were privately owned, but most of the land had the status of 'natural forest'. However, there has been tremendous commercial development in the area in recent years, most of it without the sanction of the authorities.
Home range of an Asian elephant herd ranges from 400 sq.kms to 1100 sq.kms. Each herd maintains its own home range. And, the herd may roam in another 17kms.

Six estates and 81 resorts fall in the revenue villages that are part of the elephant corridor. According to activists, over 100 illegal holiday resorts are located close to reserve forests that serve as elephant habitats in the Nilgiris. Illegal construction of resorts and felling of trees and erection of energized solar electric fencing have been noticed in the elephant corridor in recent times.

A map of the corridor was prepared by an expert committee after a field study with the help of the forest department and was submitted to the government in 2009. But the government did not notify the corridor.

Jayachandran argues that "the corridor should be acquired without disturbing the tribal habitants in and around the area and the established township of Masinagudi and Moyar". In fact, the court has ruled against disturbing tribals living in the corridor. Also, traditional forest dwellers, other than tribals, living in the area for more than 75 years, will be treated on par with the tribals. However, they have to prove possession of land for the period.

A total of 148 fields of government and 397 fields of patta land to the extent of 1692.34 hectares fall in the corridor. Nearly 600 families of around 2,000 tribals, mostly Irulas and Kurumbas, live in the region. Bommappan, an Irula in the region said "Of course, elephants pass through these regions and we both (elephant and tribal) are in tune with nature".

On August 14, 2009, an illegal trek organized by a resort turned tragic for two French tourists at Bokkapuram, when an elephant attacked a 65-year-old French woman and her 39-year-old son. Delyotal Annie died on the spot while her son, Frederick, escaped with minor injuries. On March 11, 2011, a Canadian cyclist was attacked by an elephant while he was cycling near Masinagudi.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/7923187.cms