Ooty stinks sans municipal head

Udhagamandalam: Pothole filled roads and overflowing garbage bins and manholes are still a common sight in the tourist retreat of Ooty, thanks to government apathy. Despite several representations by the Ooty municipality and its request to post a permanent head (commissioner), the state government is yet to take any step to address the issues plaguing the hill town.

Activists said the system has literally come to a standstill in the absence of a permanent municipal commissioner. The municipality is incharge of services such as water supply, sewerage, waste management, street lights and public conveniences, besides enforcing and regulating activities like tax collection, planning and building permission, trade and other licenses, and registration of birth and deaths in Ooty town, covering an area of 30.36sqkm and a population of around 90, 000.

Does the municipality render its services accordingly to the local public? "The answer is a big no," said Shobana Chandrashekar, founder of Make Ooty Beautiful (MOB). "The Ooty municipality had been functioning without a head for the past one year. We don't understand the reason behind the state government extending a step-motherly treatment to the hill town," she added.

Earlier, the municipality health officer had been holding the additional charge of the municipal commissioner. Now, municipal engineer C Ravi holds this additional portfolio.

Local residents also blamed the absence of a permanent municipal commissioner for the present state of the hill town. "There are only three main roads in the town. Two of them are maintained by the highways. Only Ettinne's Road falls under the ambit of the Ooty municipality and its condition speaks volumes for the quality of service rendered it," Shobana said.

S Sharmila, a resident of Missionary Hill area, came down heavily on the municipality for not setting up drainage facility in their area. "The state of the Missionary Hill road is pathetic Also, there is no street light in our area," she lamented.

"The town stinks, thanks to the overflowing garbage bins on roadsides and sewage water. Vendors have encroached upon all the footpaths in the town. The Charing Cross complex was flooded a week ago. And, the municipality is yet to take any concrete step," said H Prakash, a resident of Bandhishola.

Social activist Geetha Srinivasan said it was the duty of the municipality to keep Ooty clean. "Ooty is an important tourist destination. It should be kept clean," she said.

Commissioner incharge C Ravi, meanwhile, said all the vexing issues would be addressed in the coming weeks.