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Tourists throng summer festival

Staff Reporter

Heavy rush at flower show at Bryant Park in Kodaikanal

ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY: Tourists at the flower show in Kodaikanal on Sunday. — PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

KODAIKANAL: Tourists from different parts of the country are visiting the hill station in large numbers for the summer festival. There was heavy rush at the flower show inauguration at Bryant Park on Sunday.

In her special address, Collector R. Vasuki appealed to the people to keep the surroundings clean.

Revenue Minister I. Periasamy listed out development works being undertaken at the hill station.

He also said that steps would be taken to lay a road to Munnar.

While the Forest Department stall attracted many, the Tamil Nadu rainwater and groundwater awareness movement cautioned visitors that they would be forced to spend Rs.415 for two litres of drinking water in 2025.

It predicted that water could be distributed only to ration cardholders in the future and to avoid such a situation, rainwater harvesting and protection of forests were essential.

Despite the huge turnout of tourists, the number of participants for the flower show was low. Only five Government Departments and Mother Teresa University put up stalls, thanks to paucity of space in the park owing to inordinate delay in completion of development works being taken up on the premises.

Many farmers on the upper hills and in Dindigul and

Theni districts did not take part in the flower show this year. "Not even a third of the regular number participated," said K. Selvam, secretary, Dindigul District Horticulture Crop Growers' Association.

The exhibition space had also been reduced to one third of the original area.

The stall meant for vegetable growers was not put up till 9 a.m., farmers rued.

Moreover, the space for display of flowers too was reduced. An open ground behind the park office, original venue for the flower show, was converted into a dumping ground for silt removed from a pond.

Inordinate delay in the removal of the silt compelled officials to shift the venue of the function to a playground.

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