The Ooty Race Course, a 130-year-old equestrian venue, has been taken over by the Revenue Department due to unpaid lease arrears. The 53.34-acre land will be transformed into an eco-park managed by the State Horticulture Department.
Coimbatore: The historic Ooty Race Course, which has been hosting horse races and equestrian events for over 130 years, has been reclaimed by the Revenue Department from the Madras Race Club (MRC). The takeover, which occurred on Friday, July 5, 2024, marks the end of an era for the iconic venue in the heart of Udhagamandalam town.
S. Maharaj, Revenue Divisional Officer (Udhagamandalam), stated that the MRC had an agreement with the Revenue Department to lease over 54 acres of land for the operation of the Ooty Race Course since 1978. However, the club failed to pay the lease after 2001, accumulating arrears totaling ₹822 crores.
The Madras High Court passed an order on June 21, 2024, directing the Revenue Department to take over the grounds. Following this, the MRC facilities were sealed, and a notice was put up stating that the 53.34 acres repossessed have been handed over to the State Horticulture Department for the establishment of an eco-park.
Work on the eco-park has already begun, with workers trimming the grass and planning to plant native flora in the area. Godwin Vasanth Bosco, a restoration ecologist and founder of Upstream Ecology, who supplied some of the flora for planting, urged the Nilgiris district administration to maintain the area as a green lung for the town.
Bosco emphasized the ecological importance of the race course, stating, "It is a very important wetland for the town. There are no other water storage or seepage areas in Udhagamandalam that can prevent flooding as effectively as the race course." He added that the area needs to be restored with native flora, as it is a crucial high-elevation wetland, one of the most endangered habitats in the world.
Once fully restored, the wetland could serve as a habitat for more than 150 native species of flora and provide an ideal environment for small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It would also offer an excellent opportunity to educate children and adults about the Nilgiris' ecology.
Local historians note that the race course was established around 1896 by reclaiming land from the Ooty lake near the present location of the Ooty bus stand. The course measured approximately two kilometers in distance.
The transformation of this historic venue into an eco-park marks a significant shift in land use, prioritizing ecological conservation over its long-standing role as a racing venue. This change is expected to have a lasting impact on the landscape and biodiversity of Udhagamandalam.
S. Maharaj, Revenue Divisional Officer (Udhagamandalam), stated that the MRC had an agreement with the Revenue Department to lease over 54 acres of land for the operation of the Ooty Race Course since 1978. However, the club failed to pay the lease after 2001, accumulating arrears totaling ₹822 crores.
The Madras High Court passed an order on June 21, 2024, directing the Revenue Department to take over the grounds. Following this, the MRC facilities were sealed, and a notice was put up stating that the 53.34 acres repossessed have been handed over to the State Horticulture Department for the establishment of an eco-park.
Work on the eco-park has already begun, with workers trimming the grass and planning to plant native flora in the area. Godwin Vasanth Bosco, a restoration ecologist and founder of Upstream Ecology, who supplied some of the flora for planting, urged the Nilgiris district administration to maintain the area as a green lung for the town.
Bosco emphasized the ecological importance of the race course, stating, "It is a very important wetland for the town. There are no other water storage or seepage areas in Udhagamandalam that can prevent flooding as effectively as the race course." He added that the area needs to be restored with native flora, as it is a crucial high-elevation wetland, one of the most endangered habitats in the world.
Once fully restored, the wetland could serve as a habitat for more than 150 native species of flora and provide an ideal environment for small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It would also offer an excellent opportunity to educate children and adults about the Nilgiris' ecology.
Local historians note that the race course was established around 1896 by reclaiming land from the Ooty lake near the present location of the Ooty bus stand. The course measured approximately two kilometers in distance.
The transformation of this historic venue into an eco-park marks a significant shift in land use, prioritizing ecological conservation over its long-standing role as a racing venue. This change is expected to have a lasting impact on the landscape and biodiversity of Udhagamandalam.