Ooty: Encroachments that have begun to sprout in a big way in a short period of time near the Ooty central bus stand has shocked hill residents. Residents want the district administration to evict the encroachments as ruling party functionaries are alleged to be playing a big role in the encroachments.
G. Janardhanan, president of the Ooty Town Public Awareness Association (OTPAA), said that the way shops have been constructed along the vacant lands belonging to the municipality along Lake road around the central bus stand reveals that this could not have happened without the blessings of municipal and revenue officials.
“It is learnt that some ruling party bigwigs in charge of town affairs have taken law into their hands to silence municipal as well as revenue officials. This is nothing but an atrocity. While it is a norm that all constructions meant for commercial purpose should take permission from the Hill Area Conservation Authority based in Chennai, it is shocking to note the district collector sleeping on the issue. This is not something that is happening in a remote place. The encroachers are building shops in the arterial part of the town. Since a PIL on unauthorized constructions and encroachments is already in the High court, the OTPAA will take up this matter with the court if the district administration failed to act to evict encroachments,” he warned.
