The district administration is preparing to provide facilities to thousands of visitors expected to arrive in Munnar on the occasion of the flowering of Neelakurinji, once in 12 years, within a few weeks. The season will continue for nearly three months.
Eleven spots have been marked for parking of vehicles. An official of the Munnar grama panchayat on Saturday said that though some of the identified spots were waterlogged, they would be made ready for parking.
The Hydel Tourism Department under the Kerala State Electricity Board has started the work at Kundala and Munnar.
A parking ground will be completed near the Kundala reservoir to accommodate 500 vehicles.
A nature-friendly parking lot is being constructed near the hydel garden at Old Munnar.
The parking area will be marked here without cutting trees.
However, work on the parking grounds identified near the Tea Museum at Nallathanny and Kannimala Tea Factory is yet to be launched.
The road-widening work on the Munnar-Iruttukanam stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway is progressing.
Garbage collection and hygiene at public places will be a challenge for the grama panchayat.
Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have come forward to help the local body clear garbage.
Health Department officials will routinely check eateries and hotels to ensure quality of food.
Though many roadside encroachments in the region have been demolished, new ones have already come up.
A meeting was held at the Pallivasal grama panchayat hall recently to review the works taken up to for the Neelakurinji season.
Police, Excise and Health department officials attended the meeting.