The Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) is making an impassioned plea to the government: it’s time to thoroughly revamp the Nilgiris district master plan. Their core argument is that the revised plan must wholeheartedly prioritize local residents and introduce stringent restrictions on outsiders, all in the paramount, long-term interest of this unique district.
According to Venugopal Dharmalingam, the NDC’s honorary director, the master plan, originally conceived four decades ago to safeguard locals and prevent unchecked external development, has unfortunately morphed into a tool that often disadvantages locals while benefiting outsiders. He’s specifically calling for an immediate moratorium on all building applications from non-residents until those submitted by local applicants have received due consideration.
Mr. Dharmalingam highlighted that when former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa first took office in 1991, one of her initial and decisive actions was to impose a construction moratorium in the Nilgiris. This was soon followed in 1993 by the announcement of a pioneering master plan for the region, setting a precedent in the State.
However, the NDC contends that over the past 30 years, the implementation of this plan has been plagued by widespread corruption, granting unfettered access to external real estate interests, and consequently causing considerable hardship to local communities. They argue that the irresponsible approval of construction on perilous slopes by outsiders has jeopardized the entire district. Alarmingly, the majority of builders from outside Nilgiris have been found to violate established building rules and norms. This unchecked influx of external investors, the NDC warns, continues to threaten the district’s invaluable plantations and fragile slopes.
Dharmalingam firmly asserts that a true master plan should intrinsically serve the local environment and its people. He urges the government to implement a ‘single-window clearance’ system specifically for local applications. Furthermore, he calls for a long-term vision that carefully limits unrestricted access for external builders, a step vital for ensuring the environmental stability and ecological balance of this precious and delicate district.