Low-key Ooty summer fest disappoints

In all likelihood this summer festival may turn out to be a low key affair. Blame it on the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as a host of attractions including the usual vegetable show in Kotagiri, spice show in Gudalur and rose show in Ooty remains cancelled for this summer season.

Tourists had to be contended with just the traditional five-day annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden and the fruit show in Coonoor. “Many of the shows had to be cancelled as organizers were busy with election duty. Also in view of MCC, tenders could not be called and contracts awarded for the conduct of these events,” said a senior official of the Horticulture Department in The Nilgiris.

Suspension of these shows may translate into poor business for hotels and resorts in the hills usually thronged by tourists during summer to beat the searing heat.

“Every year, we eagerly look for the annual vegetable show, a crowd puller at Nehru Park. Tourist’s arrivals, ever since the vegetable show was introduced around seven years ago, helped the Kotagiri economy boom. As it remains cancelled now, for the first time, the hotels, bakeries and resorts witnessed a lower business, “said Bawa Shikkendhar, president of Hotels and Bakeries Association in Kotagiri.

He contended that tourists visiting Ooty tend to make a halt in Kotagiri to enjoy the vegetable show.

“If it is not held, the tourists proceed straight to Ooty, which means a slow-down in our businesses,” he added.

The two-day vegetable show, held annually by the first week of May, would herald the summer festival and used to be followed with a lineup of other events. Expecting to provide a visual treat to tourists, the Nehru Park even got a face lift with 30,000 new flower saplings and maintenance works were taken up by closing the park for about a month.

“Flowers in various hues have bloomed and the park has almost got ready to welcome tourists, but non-conduct of vegetable show has turned all efforts to go waste,” said a staff of the horticulture department.

However, Shiva Subramaniam Samraj, Joint Director (in-charge), Horticulture Department, The Nilgiris sought to differ as he said that non-conduct of vegetable, spice and rose shows may not take a toll on tourist arrivals.

“They are conducted only to engage the tourists visiting the hills and may not affect tourist arrivals.

In the April month alone 4.25 lakh tourists visited Ooty, which itself is a record turnout. And up to five lakh tourists are expected in May, but the numbers may come down a little in June when schools start,” he said.

Meanwhile the five-day annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) will be inaugurated by Governor Banwarilal Purohit on May 17. The fruit show will be held at SIMS Park for two days from May 25.