Conservationists including the Confederation of Environment Associations of Nilgiris (CEAN) have written to the government calling for the Ooty Race Course to be protected, and for any planned constructions to be stopped immediately.In their petition to the government, Surjit K. Chaudhary, a retired IAS officer and Chairperson of CEAN, said that a forum of citizens who came together for the protection of the wetland in Udhagamandalam did a recce of the entire wetland from Stone House to Kandhal. They said that while they were appreciative of the government in taking over the Race Course, that the same Government Order that outlined its takeover has mentioned that it had been handed over to the State Horticulture Department for the setting up of an eco-park.Published - March 17, 2026 06:58 pm IST