Valparai to get boat house, botanical park

A botanical garden, in line with the one in Ooty will be developed in Valparai at Rs 5 crores, while a boat house was proposed at a cost of Rs 2 crores in the hills.

The foundation stone for both the projects was laid by Minister for Local Administration SP Velumani on Sunday. To provide housing for poor, foundation stone for a multi-storied tenement to be built by Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board was also laid at the function.

The setting up of botanical garden and boat house will help to promote tourism and create job opportunities for the local public. “The new attractions will bring more tourists, generate employment opportunities and eventually lead to a sustained economy in Valparai,” the Minister said.

It has been a long time demand of people in Valparai to set up a botanical garden and boat house as they would help in improving the living condition of people, who were dependent only on the tea industry for survival. Though promises for new tourism promotion facilities used to come up from political parties during every election, they never materialised things.

After laying the foundation stone, Minister said development activities should not be focused only on city areas but should reach even remote villages and tribal areas too. “So the state government has been implementing numerous welfare schemes for people in Valparai,” he said.